Gezicht op de Haringpakkerstoren en de Nieuwe Stadsherberg in Amsterdam 1804

Curator: Ah, yes, Willem Writs’ "View of the Haringpakkerstoren and the Nieuwe Stadsherberg in Amsterdam," an engraving from 1804. What strikes you about it? Editor: Immediately, there’s a sense of stillness despite the implied activity of a harbor. The sky feels heavy, almost pressing down on the scene. I get a slightly melancholic vibe. Curator: That's interesting. I’m drawn to the topographical accuracy and how the print functions as historical documentation. We see the Haringpakkerstoren, or the "herring packers’ tower,” towering above the scene, and, if you look closely, a bit of the Nieuwe Stadsherberg inn. Writs has given us a very clear picture of Amsterdam’s waterfront at the turn of the 19th century. Editor: I’m thinking about how these cityscapes often leave out the messier parts of urban life. While beautifully rendered, it feels sanitized. Who is this image really for, and what does it leave out? The labor? The poverty? Who benefited from this harbor and at whose expense? Curator: It is certainly from a particular perspective. Yet, beyond simply recording what he saw, Writs manipulates the light and shadow to add depth and drama to what could have been just a straightforward representation. The clouds are swirling—they provide a powerful backdrop. Editor: I keep returning to that sky. It mirrors the social and political unrest of the time, perhaps even unintentionally. The period in which this was created witnessed immense social upheaval. Colonial power was beginning to crumble and seeds of revolutions took root across nations. Curator: And here, on this relatively small print, all seems tranquil. Funny how a single image can contain so much, both revealed and concealed. Editor: Yes, precisely. A reminder that what we see, or what we are meant to see, is always just one version of the story.