Vier mannen in harnas vluchten met schatten weg uit een brandende stad 1889

Jos Ratinckx created this detailed image of men fleeing a burning city with their possessions. The most striking motif is the burning city itself, a potent symbol of chaos and destruction. Historically, the image of a city consumed by flames evokes deep-seated fears of societal collapse and divine retribution. We see this motif echoed through art history, from the dramatic destructions depicted in Renaissance paintings to contemporary films. The image speaks to humanity’s collective memory of loss and upheaval, a recurring nightmare of civilization undone. This collective dread taps into a powerful emotional response, reminding us of our vulnerability and the transience of human achievements. The act of fleeing with treasures can be compared to similar imagery found in ancient texts and art, such as the flight from Troy. The treasures themselves—symbols of wealth, power, and cultural heritage—become allegorical representations of what societies value most, and what they desperately try to save in times of crisis. They also speak to a non-linear, cyclical progression, resurfacing and evolving with new meanings in different historical contexts.