Lot 151: Gerrit Postma (Ameland 1819-1894 Haarlem)

Gerrit Postma (Ameland 1819-1894 Haarlem)
The vaccination room
signed 'G Postma.' (lower right)
oil on canvas
94 x 124 cm.

Anonymous, Eigen Haard, no. 5, 1875, p. 309, illustrated.

H.C. Ekama, Leidschendam, 1972.

The present lot depicts a vaccination room in a rural part of Holland, where the children are vaccinated against smallpox. By variolating patients with a relatively harmless cowpox, imunity for smallpox was achieved. In the background of the composition the cow from which the cowpox was obtained can be seen.