Lock down 22, Pandemics and art

Today (26^th)I listened to the Choral Evensong which we recorded last Thursday in church. It was a surprise to hear what we had done, although I think my voice did not pay a very important part in it all. Fortunately, we have a wonderful soprano, who “carried” the music. But whatever I thought of my own contribution, I thoroughly enjoyed singing the service and it made me very happy.

Because of our lock down I thought of a church only one road length away from our own church, The St Antonius Abt on the Scheveningse Weg, the road that connects Scheveningen with The Hague. Not many people may know this Roman Catholic church, but inside it is most amazing. Inspired by Venice the apsis is decorated with the most wonderful mosaics. 

 

 

The mosaic in the absis is 12 by 17.40 meters. Its creator is Antoon Molkenboer (1872-1960). It depicts women in the traditional costume of Scheveningen, who pray and give thanks for the delivery from another epidemic, the cholera, which still made many victims even in the beginning of the 20^th century. But in the 19^th century there were two outbreaks of the epidemic throughout Europe. Scheveningen was the first place in the Netherlands to be hit by the virus. It was thought that the disease had reached the fishing village via the fishing boats which of course docked in foreign ports and harbours. The priest at that time organized extra prayer meetings displaying the sacrament, and the epidemic stopped, at least in Scheveningen. In the mosaic the women give thanks for this miraculous healing.

The church we find now was built in 1927. The parish priest who was in charge at that time, decided to commission this monumental mosaic in remembrance of the supernatural healing of the cholera. The colours of the mosaic are splendid and very vivid. It is the only impressive work of art I know of, which depicts the women of Scheveningen in their local costume. Apart of course from painters like Breitner and others of the Hague School who painted beach scenes and the local fishing population. Since my grandmothers both only wore that costume, and so many women in Scheveningen did when I grew up, I cherish this mosaic, and also admire its beauty. One tends to forget that Scheveningen used to be a village quite cut off from The Hague and separated by dunes. There was only one connecting road with toll gates. (By the way, the toll gates were moved and are now very near our Anglican church opposite the Catholic cemetery, and are purely ornamental.)

 left and right side of the mosaic

To sell the fish women, fishermen’s wives, would walk along this road to The Hague with baskets of fish. Now Scheveningen is considered just part of The Hague and the rich and well-to-do have taken over the harbours and the best apartments along the quays. The harbour is now mostly filled with expensive yachts, toys for the well-to-do. No longer does one smell the tar used for the nets and the barrels of fish, no longer are there any barrels to play on. The village of Scheveningen was always looked upon as inferior to The Hague. Amazing, for the men and women worked very hard indeed. Women were independent before the word feminist was invented. The men would be at sea for several weeks on end, and the women would take over everything at home and make their own decisions. They were tough and brave, although poor, which was not their fault. Even when I was a child, being from Scheveningen instead of The Hague was considered rather inferior.

To return to epidemics, pandemics and epidemics have always been there and will always be with us. The cause of cholera was found and clean drinking water and much better hygiene put a stop to that, at least in the western world. In third world countries it is a different story.

We will surely find a cause of and cure for or vaccine against this pandemic, but if we do not change our life style, this pandemic surely won’t be the last one. Wouldn’t it be great if after this is over artists would be commissioned to make another splendid work of art to commemorate this remarkable episode in history? But would we still dedicate it to God?

 Side chapel