Beschrijving en Afbeeldingen van het Ministerie van Marine, te 's Gravenhage, Vóór, gedurende, en na den noodlottigen Brand van den 8sten Januarij 1844 1844

This book, printed in The Hague by the Van Lier Brothers in 1844, describes and illustrates the Ministry of the Navy before, during, and after the disastrous fire of January 8th. The very existence of this publication speaks to the function of print and the social role of images in early 19th century Dutch society. It provides a snapshot of the public's fascination with institutional events. Consider how the image creates meaning by depicting a national institution, a ministry, the very idea of which had been recently forged during the Batavian Republic. The book serves as a means to circulate images widely, creating a shared visual culture. The publication costs thirty cents which might imply the intended audience was middle class. To fully appreciate the role of these images and the purpose of this book, one might consult archival records of the Ministry, contemporary newspaper accounts, and period publications to better understand the values and priorities of Dutch society at the time.