Schuit op het IJ before 1857

Ruurt de Vries made this print called 'Schuit op het IJ' using etching and aquatint. The image shows a boat on the IJ river in Amsterdam, likely made in the mid-19th century. At this time, the Netherlands was undergoing major changes. It had become a constitutional monarchy but was struggling to keep up with its European neighbors. The urban landscape was also changing as the economy shifted. Waterways, like the one in this print, were vital for trade. De Vries probably drew this print for an organization like the Maatschappij tot Aanmoediging der Schoone Kunsten, which used printmaking to promote art and Dutch society. To fully understand De Vries’ print, we can look into the archives of such organizations and study Dutch social history. It’s through this research that art historians give meaning to works like this one.