Zijgevel van het Stadhuis te Amsterdam 1695 - 1699

This print of the side of Amsterdam’s Town Hall was made by an anonymous artist, using etching and engraving. This image offers a glimpse into the civic pride and architectural ambition of the Dutch Golden Age. Completed in the mid-17th century, the Town Hall, now the Royal Palace, was designed to project Amsterdam as the new center of the world. The building itself, with its classical details and imposing scale, embodies the values of the Dutch Republic. The print captures this ambition, presenting the Town Hall as a symbol of order, prosperity, and civic responsibility. Architectural prints like this one served to disseminate ideas about design and governance, shaping public perception and reinforcing the values of the ruling elite. To fully appreciate this print, one might consult city archives, architectural treatises, and period accounts. By examining such sources, we reveal the complex interplay between art, power, and social identity in the Dutch Golden Age.