Ontploffing van Stoelemat te Bergen op Zoom, 1831 1831

This illustrated broadside, made in 1831 by T.C. Hoffers, depicts the explosion of a powder magazine in Bergen op Zoom. Its monochromatic palette emphasizes the stark contrast between text and image, drawing our attention to the materiality of the print itself. The composition is structured around three framed vignettes at the top, acting as visual summaries above a field of densely printed text below. These images depict scenes before, during, and after the explosion. Notice how the artist employs line and form to convey destruction and chaos. The human figures, rendered with simple strokes, seem to flail wildly amidst the collapsing structures, conveying a sense of terror. This piece exemplifies how art can function as a historical document. The broadside’s layout encourages us to read it not only as a description of events, but also as a constructed narrative, shaping public memory through both visual and textual means.