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The Black Death

Kayla Bolich

The Black Death arrived in Europe by sea in October 1347 on what was nicknamed “death ships” that carried infected rats and fleas.

It only to the first outbreak of 12 sailors start a dangerous plague that would last over the next five years, the mysterious Black Death would “kill more than 20 million people in Europe–almost one-third of the continent’s population”.(history.com) The black death would start in Messina and explore the major trade routes reaching even China, India, Persia, Syria and Egypt. A great statement from Italian poet Giovanni Boccaccio wrote: “ at the beginning of the malady, certain swellings, either on the groin or under the armpits…waxed to the bigness of a common apple, others to the size of an egg, some more and some less, and these the vulgar named plague-boils.”

“Blood and pus seeped out of these strange swellings, which were followed by a host of other unpleasant symptoms–fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, terrible aches and pains–and then, in short order, death. The Black Death was terrifying, indiscriminately contagious: “the mere touching of the clothes,” wrote Boccaccio, “appeared to itself to communicate the malady to the toucher.” The disease was also terrifyingly efficient. People who were perfectly healthy when they went to bed at night could be dead by morning.” (history.com)

By the middle of 1348, the Black Death had struck Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, and London. No one could figure out why and how the plague spread. Not a single clue on how to treat it or prevent it. The Black Plague would soon spread panic throughout Europe. People would try to flee the disease. Most would believe “that the Black Death was a kind of divine punishment–retribution for sins against God such as greed, blasphemy, heresy, fornication and worldliness” (history.com). People started to ask God for forgiveness hoping it would keep them safe from death. Artist started creating terrifying artwork to document the plague and the total it took in the cities of Europe or even documenting it’s horrifying symptoms. Other’s however, took these “images of death” (theguardian.com) and found a way to create “joyous paintings” (theguardian.com) about the afterlife and accepting death. These paintings also appeared bright and colorful as the renascence was on its way. If I lived during the horrid plague, I would certainly think of my family first. Maybe hide ourselves away or move to best project ourselves or live our remaining days together and in peace. If I were an artist, knowing my personality I would capture moments of my family. My paintings would defiantly shine a little on the brighter side.

Bibliography History.com Staff. “Black Death.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2010, www.history.com/topics/black-death. Jones, Jonathan. “Brush with the Black Death: How Artists Painted through the Plague.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 15 Feb. 2012, www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2012/feb/15/brush-black-death-artists-plague.