Toulon Var Provence France 1884 Cholera Panic at the Town Hall Wood Engraving

Description

Toulon cholera engraving dated 1884 depicts the panic surrounding the town hall during the epidemic. Executed after a drawing by Haenen, the print offers a vivid historical view of Toulon in the Var department of Provence France.

A large crowd gathers outside the town hall with luggage and carts piled with furniture and household belongings. The closely arranged figures and numerous everyday details convey the confusion of the moment. The architecture and the prominent statue on the right give the scene a distinctive local setting.

The original French caption beneath the image identifies the subject as the panic during the first days of the epidemic around the town hall. It also credits Haenen as the draughtsman.

Beyond its interest as a view of nineteenth-century Toulon, this antique wood engraving brings together local history and the history of medicine. Its detailed portrayal of people and their possessions makes it an engaging record of the social impact of an epidemic.

Details:
– Date: 1884.
– Technique: wood engraving.
– After a drawing by Haenen.
– Subject: the cholera epidemic in Toulon.
– Location: Toulon Var Provence France.
– Sheet dimensions: 34.4 × 23.2 cm.
– Printed image dimensions: 31.3 × 21 cm.