De brand in het huis van de Franse Ambassadeur te Den Haag, 27 maart 1782 1782

Aert Schouman captured "The Fire in the House of the French Ambassador" in The Hague on paper with watercolor and graphite in 1782. Schouman used thin washes of watercolor, a readily available material, to depict a scene of civic unrest. The broad application gives the scene a gloomy and dark feel, focusing on the burning building. The use of graphite allowed the artist to sketch out the dimensions of the buildings to realistically depict the scene, while thin lines of darker hues depict the bare trees. This artwork provides insight into the social and political tensions of the time. The relatively small dimensions of the paper, combined with the quick drying time of watercolor, allowed Schouman to document and capture the event rapidly. The use of modest materials and relatively quick production is reflective of its function to disseminate information about the event and the social context in which it occurred. It's a reminder that art doesn't always require grand materials; it can emerge from everyday life, capturing moments of significance with readily available resources.