Tsaar Peterhuisje te Zaandam, 1697 1820 - 1834

Willem van Senus created this artwork, "Tsaar Peterhuisje te Zaandam, 1697," through etching and watercolor. The print shows the wooden house where the Russian Tsar Peter the Great stayed during his visit to Zaandam in 1697. Senus made this print during a period of shifting national identities and political change. This artwork touches on themes of cultural exchange, power dynamics, and the construction of national identity. While seemingly a simple depiction of a historical site, the image raises questions about who gets to be remembered and how historical narratives are shaped. Why commemorate a Russian Tsar in the Netherlands? What does it mean to preserve the house where a powerful foreign leader once stayed? The artwork invites us to consider how places become imbued with meaning, and whose stories are deemed worthy of preservation. As you reflect on this image, think about the stories and histories that resonate with you.