Gevels van huizenrijen aan de Keizersgracht van de Leidsegracht naar het Molenpad en de Herengracht van de Wolvenstraat naar de Oude Spiegelstraat en de Romeinsarmsteeg 1768 - 1771

Caspar Jacobsz. Philips made this print of the Keizersgracht and Herengracht in Amsterdam using etching. Philips was working in the later 18th century, a time when the Dutch Republic was in decline but Amsterdam was still a major center for trade. This image is a visual record of Amsterdam’s urban landscape, and a celebration of its architecture. The rows of houses, rendered in precise detail, convey a sense of order and prosperity. However, we might ask ourselves, for whom was this prosperity intended? The grand houses lining the canals were built for the wealthy merchant class, whose fortunes depended on global trade networks. Prints such as these offer us an insight into the social hierarchies of the time. By studying maps, census records, and other historical documents, we can learn more about the people who lived in these houses, and the social structures that shaped their lives.