Boeren getroffen door runderpest, 1745 1745

This 1745 etching by Jan (II) Smit, titled "Boeren getroffen door runderpest, 1745", is a visual commentary on the devastating cattle plague that swept through the Netherlands in the mid-18th century. The image depicts a rural landscape with farmers and townspeople mourning the loss of their livestock, a stark reminder of the economic hardship that the plague inflicted. The work, now housed at the Rijksmuseum, showcases the artist's skill in conveying a sense of despair and vulnerability through the use of detailed figures and a panoramic background, emphasizing the widespread impact of the devastating disease.