The Latin school on the Singel, Amsterdam 1802

Curator: Let's turn our attention to Jacob Smies's watercolor piece, "The Latin School on the Singel, Amsterdam," created in 1802, currently residing here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: At first glance, it’s quite balanced, isn’t it? The architectural forms, the water… there's a stillness to it all. A very calm depiction of a city scene. Curator: It’s a slice of Amsterdam life from the turn of the 19th century. Think about the social stratification represented here: the Latin School, an institution accessible mostly to the elite. We're seeing a glimpse of educational privilege. Editor: I’m struck by how Smies uses the muted colors. The tones evoke a sense of distance, almost as if viewing it through time itself. The interplay between the water and the brickwork, the linear precision against the softer reflections... Curator: The buildings themselves speak volumes. The brick, the way the structures are positioned along the canal – it points to Amsterdam's mercantile history and the wealth generated through trade that funded such buildings, shaping the city’s urban landscape. The materiality of the structures reveals a social story. Editor: And that delicate touch with the figures! They are rendered just enough to suggest movement and life, but not so much that they disrupt the architectural rhythm. It leads my eyes back to the facades of the buildings and the light reflecting on the Singel. Curator: Exactly. Even the technique speaks to that. The light washes of watercolor, the delicate brushwork, are a means to capture the details while perhaps softening the edges, idealizing the setting somewhat. What is left out can speak as loudly as what is shown in genre paintings like these. Editor: Indeed. It’s a very composed, carefully constructed scene. Makes you consider how Smies wanted us to *see* Amsterdam at this moment in time. The framing and perspective pull everything together beautifully, offering a sense of serenity despite the implicit hustle and bustle. Curator: For me, revisiting it emphasizes how material prosperity shapes and determines access to education and opportunity—visible in the stones, bricks, and in the daily life captured alongside the Singel. Editor: And I will cherish it for its elegance and pictorial harmony—a moment captured perfectly through careful formal choices and delicate coloring.