Gezicht op het IJ before 1894

Hendrik Herman van den Berg created this photograph called 'Gezicht op het IJ'. It captures a view of the IJ, the body of water that has been so crucial to the economic and social development of Amsterdam and the Netherlands. In this image, we see a variety of boats, suggesting the busy maritime activity that defined the area. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the port of Amsterdam went through significant changes, adapting to new technologies and increased trade. The visual codes of the photograph, with its emphasis on labor and commerce, reflect the values of a society in transition. This particular angle and the focus on the boats suggest an interest in the daily life and the working class of the city. Further research into the archives of the city of Amsterdam, alongside studies of Dutch maritime history, might offer richer insight. Art is always contingent on social and institutional context.