Gezicht op de binnenplaats van de Beurs van Hendrik de Keyser in Amsterdam 1693

Editor: This is a 1693 engraving entitled "Gezicht op de binnenplaats van de Beurs van Hendrik de Keyser in Amsterdam," which translates to "View of the courtyard of the Hendrik de Keyser Stock Exchange in Amsterdam." It’s so precise; I'm struck by the level of detail. What stands out to you about this work? Curator: The Beurs, the stock exchange, wasn’t simply a site of commerce, it was a crucial intersection point in Amsterdam’s, and indeed the world's, burgeoning capitalist system. What stories do you think are silenced in this depiction of commerce, particularly regarding the city’s reliance on colonialism and slavery? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. It makes me think about the individuals who are present in the scene. They all appear to be men of a certain status, probably actively participating in the exchanges. Where are the other actors in this financial game, such as the enslaved? Curator: Precisely! Amsterdam’s wealth was built on the backs of many whose labor and lives were commodified and erased from the visual narrative of prosperity. Do you see how the print aesthetic—precise and ordered—lends itself to the illusion of control, obscuring the messy reality of exploitation that fueled this economy? Editor: I do now. The ordered architecture and the neat lines almost seem to sanitize the more brutal realities that made it possible. It definitely encourages a deeper analysis. Thank you. Curator: And thank you for bringing a fresh perspective. Considering whose stories are intentionally omitted invites critical thinking about art’s role in reinforcing specific power structures.