Gezicht op de Munt aan de overzijde van het Singel in Amsterdam c. 1854

Eduard Isaac Asser captured this view of the Munt from across the Singel in Amsterdam using early photographic techniques. Asser, a lawyer by trade, was part of a pioneering generation of photographers in the Netherlands. His choice to document Amsterdam's urban landscape speaks to a growing interest in the city as a site of cultural and economic activity. The perspective offers a glimpse into the daily lives of its inhabitants. The buildings, with their varying heights and architectural details, reflect the city’s stratified society, and the commercial activity taking place within it. The sepia tones and soft focus lend the photograph a nostalgic quality, inviting us to consider the passage of time and the transformations the city has undergone. However, the muted tones also mask some of the harsh realities of urban life, such as poverty and inequality. What do you see when you look beyond the buildings and into the lives of the people who lived and worked there?