Interieur van de Oude Kerk van Amsterdam, gezien naar het westen 1680 - 1731

Jan Goeree created this print of the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam sometime between 1670 and 1731. It offers a glimpse into the social and religious life of the Dutch Golden Age. The Oude Kerk, or Old Church, was initially a Catholic church, but it became a Calvinist Protestant church after the Reformation. It was a central institution in the lives of Amsterdam residents, and Goeree's print captures both the grandeur of the architecture and the everyday activities that took place within it. Notice how Goeree uses linear perspective to draw our eye toward the west end of the church, emphasizing its size and height. The figures give us a sense of scale, as well as suggesting how the space was used. Prints like these were important tools for documenting and disseminating information about architecture and urban life in the Netherlands. Looking at historical prints and archival records gives us insight into the values, beliefs, and social structures of the people who created and inhabited these spaces.