Gezicht op het Stadhuis aan de Grote Markt te Delft 1742 - 1801

This is a print of the city hall on the Grote Markt in Delft, made by Georg Balthasar Probst in the 18th century. It offers us a window into the urban life of the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by burgeoning trade and evolving social hierarchies. The print captures a bustling marketplace, a space where social classes converge. Note the figures populating the scene, from what appear to be affluent individuals riding in carriages, to laborers and street vendors. How do gender roles appear to be portrayed? What do we notice about the depiction of labor and leisure? Probst's print not only documents the physical space of Delft but also the social dynamics at play within it. While seemingly a straightforward city view, the artwork prompts us to consider the complex tapestry of identities that shaped the city's culture. It makes us think about who had access to the city, and how life may have differed for them depending on their position in society.