View of Delft after the Explosion of the Gunpowder Arsenal on October 12, 1654 1620 - 1685

Herman Saftleven II created this drawing of Delft in the Netherlands with pen and brown ink, brush and gray wash, over graphite, on cream laid paper after the gunpowder explosion of 1654. It's a stark portrayal of devastation. Saftleven’s choice to depict the aftermath invites us to consider the role of art in documenting and responding to collective trauma. Made in the wake of the event, the drawing is a reflection on the fragility of human constructions and the power of unforeseen disasters. The work serves as a visual record of a specific historical moment. We can use newspaper reports, city records, and personal letters to reveal the social, economic, and political consequences that shape artistic production. The drawing makes a potent statement about the unpredictable nature of history and the role of art in preserving its memory.