Trucage foto van het paling trekken op de Lindegracht 1886

This photograph, made by F. Bouman, shows eel pulling on the Lindegracht in Amsterdam. The title suggests a manipulated image, raising questions about how photography was understood at the time. The image’s meaning lies in how it captures a specific cultural event in a specific place. Eel pulling was a popular spectacle in the Netherlands, particularly in working-class neighborhoods like the Lindegracht. But it was also controversial, seen by some as cruel to animals and a source of public disorder. This controversy eventually led to its ban. The fact that this photograph claims to be a "tructage," or trick photograph, invites us to question the role of photography in shaping public opinion. Was this a deliberate attempt to highlight or criticize the event? To understand this, it is vital to consider the social context in which the photograph was made and exhibited. By looking at contemporary newspapers, police records, and other sources, we can better understand the politics of the image and its role in the social history of Amsterdam.