Vijf handen ontsteken kaarsen aan een kaars die in een rijk bewerkte kandelaar staat 1655 - 1708

This image, made by Romeyn de Hooghe, depicts five hands lighting candles from a single, ornate candle. De Hooghe was a Dutch artist working in the late 17th century. The Dutch Republic was a major center for trade and culture and this era saw the rise of a wealthy merchant class. This print exists as a meditation on prosperity, with many hands benefiting from a single source. But, the hands, emerging from clouds, also evoke a sense of the ethereal or divine. The single candle could be interpreted as a symbol of faith, knowledge, or wealth, which is then distributed. It's interesting to consider the power dynamics at play. Who do these hands belong to? Are they equal, or is there an implied hierarchy? How does the act of sharing the light change its nature, and what does it mean for the sharers? Ultimately, this image invites us to reflect on the delicate balance between individual gain and collective good, a tension as relevant today as it was in the Dutch Golden Age.