Plundering van het huis van een wijnkoper Gerrit Hagedooren te Rotterdam, 1751 1751

This etching by Dutch artist Simon Fokke, created in 1751, depicts the plundering of wine merchant Gerrit Hagedooren’s house in Rotterdam. The scene is set at night, with a crowd of people swarming the street, breaking into the building and looting its contents. The print was likely commissioned by Hagedooren himself, as a record of the event and perhaps as a warning to potential future thieves. The detailed composition and use of light and shadow are characteristic of Fokke’s style. This artwork, part of the Rijksmuseum collection, offers a fascinating glimpse into 18th-century life in Rotterdam, specifically a moment of chaos and criminal activity.