Doorbraak van den Arkelenschen Dijk bij Kedichem in Louwmaand 1809 / La Rupture dans la Digue D Arkelen (...) 1809

A. Lutz made this print titled 'Doorbraak van den Arkelenschen Dijk bij Kedichem in Louwmaand 1809' using an unidentified technique. The image captures the Arkelen dike breach near Kedichem during the cold month of January in 1809. It is difficult to ignore the stark exposure of communities to natural disasters, and the socio-economic inequalities of the time which exacerbated the impact on the most vulnerable. We see a group of people, perhaps a family, including a child and their dog looking out towards the disaster. Consider the power dynamics at play, who had the resources to rebuild, and whose voices were marginalized in the aftermath? The print serves as a historical record and prompts reflection on our relationship with the environment, and our responsibility towards those affected by environmental crises. It resonates with contemporary concerns about climate change and social justice, reminding us of the human cost of environmental disasters.