Hoofdingang van de Franse tuin in het Park aan de Plantage Parklaan te Amsterdam 1832 - 1888

Popko van Groningen made this print, titled 'Hoofdingang van de Franse tuin in het Park aan de Plantage Parklaan te Amsterdam', in the 19th century. At first glance, it's an image of a gathering of people at the entrance of a garden. But, it's worth thinking about who has access to these spaces and what it means to portray it in print. We see people dressed in formal attire, perhaps members of the bourgeoisie, casually walking in and out of this private garden. Meanwhile, the carefully designed entrance gate with classical sculptures presents a narrative of power, wealth, and exclusion. This was a time of immense social change, marked by the rise of industrialization and growing class divisions. Van Groningen’s print not only captures a moment in time, but also reflects the societal structures and power dynamics of 19th-century Amsterdam. It leaves us to consider the politics of leisure, who is invited, and who is excluded.