De provincie Noord-Holland. 523895 inwoners 1839 - 1841

This is a print showing the province of Noord-Holland with 424,000 inhabitants, created by Willem Bal, sometime between his birth in 1808 and death in 1897. It’s held at the Rijksmuseum. This print offers a window into the cultural and economic pride of the Netherlands through an idealized view of its cities and landmarks. Bal’s work reflects the 19th-century fascination with national identity and progress. The detailed depictions of architectural landmarks and bustling town squares are rendered with an eye to the prosperity of the region, yet they gloss over the stark social inequalities present at the time. Consider the inclusion of the Czar Peter House in Zaandam, a humble dwelling preserved as a monument. It embodies a certain romanticization of the working class while still celebrating imperial connections. These images are carefully constructed to project an image of a unified, industrious, and historically rich province. What stories do these images hide about the lives of the working class, women, and marginalized communities within Noord-Holland at this time?