Uitgebrand huis op de Leidsegracht, 1684 1690 - 1735

Joseph Mulder created this engraving of a burned house on the Leidsegracht in 1684. The formal structure of the print reveals a dramatic scene through its meticulous lines and calculated composition. The stark contrast between the solid architectural forms and the chaotic activity creates a visual tension, underscored by the damaged building at the center. Mulder carefully arranges the figures and debris to guide our eyes, emphasizing the scene’s disarray and the community’s response. The artist uses a semiotic system of recognizable signs to interpret the depicted environment. Buildings serve as symbols of stability and order, and the fire damage destabilizes this. The artist questions what happens to the structures of society when the unexpected occurs. This print prompts us to consider how we perceive safety and resilience through the lens of constructed forms and the human response to crisis.