Toeschouwers bij restaurant Trianon aan het Leidseplein te Amsterdam 1922

Otto Verhagen made this pencil sketch in 1922, titled 'Spectators at the Trianon Restaurant on Leidseplein in Amsterdam'. It offers us a fleeting glimpse into the social life of Amsterdam during the Interwar Period. Verhagen's sketch captures the informal atmosphere of a public space, perhaps hinting at a significant event that has drawn these onlookers to the Leidseplein. The quick, light strokes of the pencil suggest a spontaneous rendering, prioritizing the capture of a moment over precise detail. We see the dress of the figures, in particular their hats, as well as a pipe, all of which give us insights into the fashion and class of the people represented. To understand this image better, we can look into archives, newspapers, and other cultural ephemera from the period. These resources may reveal what exactly the spectators were watching and what that event may tell us about the city and its people at that time. The meaning of this seemingly simple sketch is profoundly shaped by its historical and social context.