Het Oude Stadhuis van Amsterdam 1778 - 1838

Curator: So, this is "Het Oude Stadhuis van Amsterdam," a drawing made between 1778 and 1838 by Anthonie van den Bos. It depicts the old town hall, obviously, rendered in ink on paper. Editor: Yes, it has a very documentary feel, doesn't it? Like a precise historical record. What can we say about this piece, beyond it being a cityscape? Curator: Well, consider what a town hall represented then and now. It's not just bricks and mortar, is it? It’s a physical embodiment of power, law, and community. Think about who had access, who was represented, and conversely, who was excluded in this cityscape. Van den Bos gives us a bustling square. But, whose bustle was valued? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn't really thought about who gets to participate in the 'bustle'. The figures in the foreground all seem rather formally dressed, and seem like a lot of men in that crowd. Curator: Exactly. And how does the architectural style itself reinforce that? Note the imposing height, the classical detailing. It's deliberately designed to inspire respect, perhaps even a little awe. Now, consider the time this was drawn – what social upheavals were brewing? Editor: This was during the period of democratic revolutions, right? So, an image like this of the town hall would have symbolized a structure on the precipice of transformation. It must have been seen so differently then. Curator: Precisely. The drawing captures not just a building but a moment of societal tension and transformation, a visual document of power dynamics on the verge of a shift. Editor: Thank you for highlighting the power dynamics inherent within something that looks like an objective architectural sketch. I am never looking at drawings the same again!