Ophalen van lijken met karren c. 1820

Joannes Bemme made this drawing, "Ophalen van lijken met karren," or "Collecting Corpses with Carts," probably in the early 19th century. The scene depicts the grim reality of urban life, likely in the Netherlands. The drawing uses stark lines to portray death and destitution amidst what seems to be a plague outbreak. We see bodies strewn around, while horse-drawn carts collect the dead in front of a grand, yet imposing building. The drawing invites us to consider the social conditions of the time. Was Bemme critiquing the social structure? Was he perhaps highlighting the disparity between the wealthy institutions and the suffering masses? The politics of imagery in such a work are potent, especially when considering that institutions of art, like the Rijksmuseum where this drawing resides, play a role in shaping social norms. To fully understand this work, it helps to delve into the archives of the period. Social histories, municipal records, and studies of public health can all shed light on the artist’s motivation. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.