Huizen aan de Visbrug te Leiden, vóór de brand van 1766 1766

Curator: This is Noach van der Meer II's etching and engraving titled "Huizen aan de Visbrug te Leiden, vóór de brand van 1766," made in the year of the fire itself. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: The clarity of the lines makes it almost photographic, even though it predates photography. The light feels… calm. Before the storm, perhaps? Curator: That's astute. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the print acts as a historical document, freezing a specific moment in Leiden’s urban evolution. Considering the title, it’s impossible not to view it through the lens of the impending fire. Editor: Exactly. What strikes me are the figures populating the scene. They’re engaged in everyday activities – walking, conversing, pulling carts – oblivious to the tragedy that's about to unfold. Their lives are inextricably linked to the Visbrug and its surroundings, soon to be irrevocably altered. Curator: Van der Meer was actively participating in the visual culture of his time, recording Leiden's architectural characteristics for prosperity, and more urgently, for the present before disaster strikes. Prints such as these were crucial in shaping public perception, solidifying collective memories, and, sometimes, promoting political ideas by idealizing, or in other cases pointing out urgent issues. Editor: I agree. I wonder about the stories embedded within those buildings. Were they sites of trade, family homes, or hubs of artistic activity? Who lived and worked there, and how did their lives change after the fire? It highlights art's unique positionality at an intersection between time and space; we find ourselves between then and now, inside and outside. Curator: This piece is significant because it not only depicts the buildings that burned down, it illustrates life before disaster, which in itself acts as a conversation piece and a cautionary reminder. The artwork becomes part of a much broader socio-historical narrative. Editor: Seeing art functioning this way really makes you ponder the ever-present human conditions we find ourselves in. Curator: It really does bring it home. Editor: Yes, very grounding.