Apostolisch gasthuis 1670 - 1697

Willem Swidde created this print of the Apostolisch Gasthuis using etching techniques. The print depicts a streetscape in the Dutch Republic, likely in the late 17th century. This grand building was the Apostolic Guesthouse, a Catholic institution providing care to pilgrims and travelers. The architecture itself makes a statement about the cultural climate of the time. While the Dutch Republic was largely Protestant, Catholicism maintained a presence, and institutions like this one played a crucial role in supporting their community. Swidde’s detailed depiction of the Guesthouse and the people who move around it can be considered a statement of the Church’s power and cultural centrality. The print provides invaluable insights into the religious and social landscape of the Dutch Golden Age. To fully understand the print, we can consult historical archives, urban plans, and religious documents of the period. These resources will reveal the complex interplay of religious tolerance, social welfare, and institutional power that shaped the Dutch Republic and the art produced within it.