Twee gezichten op de bevroren Amstel te Amsterdam, waarvan één reproductie van een prent door Paulus van Liender 1890 - 1900

This page features two images of the frozen Amstel in Amsterdam, made by an anonymous artist. The top image is a reproduction of a print by Paulus van Liender. These images offer a glimpse into Dutch society, reflecting the importance of waterways for transport, recreation and commerce. Here, the frozen Amstel becomes a temporary public space, where people from all walks of life could gather and interact. The print also speaks to the Dutch Republic's artistic and economic prosperity during its Golden Age, when landscape painting and printmaking flourished. Institutions such as the Guild of Saint Luke played a crucial role in regulating artistic production and ensuring quality. To fully understand images like these, historians delve into period archives, maps, and social histories. Only by looking at the wider context can we grasp the intricate relationship between art and the social conditions that shape its creation and reception.