Gezicht op de stad Alkmaar vanaf het Zeglis met de Boompoort 1730 - 1784

"Gezicht op de stad Alkmaar vanaf het Zeglis met de Boompoort" is an etching made by Hendrik Spilman. Spilman's detailed rendering of Alkmaar's cityscape emerges from a period marked by significant shifts in Dutch society. During the 18th century, the Netherlands faced economic decline and political tensions. Spilman, positioned within this changing landscape, creates more than just a city view. The scene includes meticulously rendered buildings and windmills, alongside people from various social strata that populate the foreground. We see men working, elegantly dressed women, as well as children pulling a cart. This careful arrangement invites us to reflect on the connections between identity and place. Spilman’s work shows how societal structures shape individual experiences and collective memory. The print, which may seem conventional, speaks to the negotiation of identity in the face of social and economic change. It reminds us of the emotional and personal dimensions embedded in historical events.