Vuur 1573 - 1580

Etienne Delaune created this tiny engraving, Vuur, in the mid-16th century, rendering fire as a male god, floating on a cloud. The image is allegorical, referring to fire as one of the four elements of the universe that were widely discussed in this era. Delaune was from France, a country then deep in religious conflict, and this image may allude to the role of fire as a destructive force. The presence of the god, his royal staff, and the burning city in the background point to fire as an instrument of power and war. How might the population of this time have viewed such an image? Was it seen as an endorsement of power, or was it a subtle condemnation of conflict? To understand the image better, we might research the history of iconoclasm and religious war in 16th-century France. Delaune’s print invites us to reflect on the role of the artist as a commentator on social and political conflict.