Armenhuis aan het Spui, Den Haag 1859 - 1865

Pieter Oosterhuis captured this stereo card of the Armenhuis on the Spui in The Hague using albumen print. This image presents us with more than just a building; it offers a glimpse into the social fabric of 19th-century Netherlands. The Armenhuis, or poorhouse, was an institution designed to provide shelter and work for the impoverished. Oosterhuis's photograph invites us to consider the role of such institutions in society. How did they function? Who did they serve? And what does their architectural presence in the city tell us about prevailing attitudes towards poverty and social welfare at the time? The buildings presence in the photograph, reflected in the water, is an important visual code that allows us to understand the building's meaning within its social context. Historians rely on sources, such as archival records, census data, newspaper accounts, and even photographs like this one to piece together a more complete picture. By examining such evidence, we can gain a richer understanding of the complex relationship between art, architecture, and social history.