Jan Kuijpers (1819-1892). Two variant drawings on the floods of 1861

"Watersnood lijdende gaande naar het Gasthuis, om gemetamorphoseert te worden". "De terugkomst uit het gasthuis" [in Gorinchem]. Two drawings w. the same composition in pencil w. brown and grey wash, the first also w. use of col. chalk and white gouache, both 21 x 28 cm, both signed and titled in pencil, the first dated "Jan. 1861" in pencil and numb. "No. 12" in pen, uniformly framed.

Both drawings browned or on brownish paper (not examined outside the frame); both w. central vertical fold. Interesting documentation of victims of the devastating floods of 1861, here with the church-tower of Gorinchem (the artist was active there from 1849 to 1878) vaguely in the background in both drawings. Apparently, after the floods the victims went to the "Gasthuis" to receive some kind of government or church-aid, and indeed, on their way back all of them are wearing white caps against the cold. (total 2)