Tweede plaat van de watersnood na dijkdoorbraken bij de grote rivieren, 1740-1741 1741

This is Jan (II) Smit’s print from 1740-1741, documenting the flooding after the dike breaches near the large rivers. The image captures a pivotal moment in Dutch history, reflecting both the nation's ongoing battle with water and the social hierarchies of the time. The detailed map illustrates the extent of the flooding, while the foreground depicts a gathering of presumably affluent individuals, set apart from the submerged landscape. These figures seem to be observing, perhaps assessing, the devastation. The inclusion of these figures raises questions about power, privilege, and the varied experiences of natural disasters. Who had the resources to remain safe and observe, and who suffered the most? This print serves as a stark reminder of the uneven distribution of risk and resilience in the face of environmental crisis. It invites us to consider how class and social status shape our encounters with nature and its destructive forces.