Volkswoede in Alkmaar tijdens het Kaas- en Broodoproer, 1492 1783 - 1785

This drawing was made by Jacobus Buys, likely in the late 18th century, depicting the "Volkswoede in Alkmaar tijdens het Kaas- en Broodoproer, 1492," or the people's fury in Alkmaar during the Cheese and Bread Riot. Buys transports us to a moment of intense social upheaval. But what does it mean to depict an event from centuries earlier? Consider the economic disparities of Buys’ own time; the late 1700s saw growing tensions between the wealthy elite and the impoverished masses. It’s not hard to imagine that Buys might have seen parallels between his contemporary society and the events of 1492. The riot itself, triggered by food shortages and economic hardship, reveals the raw vulnerability of a population pushed to its limits. The flags bearing cheese and bread are not merely symbols of sustenance; they represent a desperate cry for economic justice and survival. This piece is less about historical record, and more about ongoing issues of social and economic inequality.