IJskelder bij de Utrechtse Poort 1815 - 1827

Johannes Ludovicus van den Bos created this print, titled 'Ice Cellar near the Utrecht Gate,' during the early 19th century. Van den Bos’ short life coincided with a period of significant social and economic change in the Netherlands, as it transitioned from the Batavian Republic to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. While the image depicts a seemingly quiet, rural scene, it’s important to consider what isn’t shown: the labor, the resources required to maintain an ice cellar, and who had access to its cooling benefits. Ice, once a luxury, would have been available only to a certain class. Note the figure carrying what appears to be wood, an implication of labor set against a backdrop of domesticity. This image prompts reflection on themes of access, labor, and the divisions within society. It reminds us to look closely at the details and ask: whose stories are being told, and whose are being left out?