Ontwerp voor illuminatie van het huis van de heer Tak te Amsterdam, 1788 1788

Hendrik G. van Raan designed this plan for the illumination of the Tak house in Amsterdam in 1788. At the time, Amsterdam was a city of contrasts, with a powerful merchant class and growing social inequality. This drawing offers us insight into the rituals of display and celebration among the wealthy. We can see how public image was carefully constructed through the use of light and ornamentation. What did it mean to illuminate one's home in this period? Was it purely decorative, or did it symbolize something more? The design includes detailed instructions for the number of lamps to be used, reflecting a desire for precision and control in the presentation of wealth and status. Consider the implications of such displays in a society marked by disparities. How might these illuminated homes have been perceived by those living in the shadows? This drawing serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between aesthetics, power, and social identity in 18th-century Amsterdam.