Enkhuizen 1888 - 1934

Willem Adrianus Grondhout made this print of Enkhuizen using etching. The image shows a placid view of a town in the Netherlands, a place with a strong artistic and institutional history, and a fascinating social and economic history. Its serene topic, focused on the details of the bridge and town, speaks to the kind of civic pride that was emerging in the Netherlands as it emerged as an independent trading nation. The print's reliance on line, as well as its subdued and harmonious tones, makes it a good example of the etching revival that was taking place at this time. The Rijksmuseum is an important part of that institutional history, as it provided a space for artists to show work like this, helping them find a market for their art. As historians, we have a wealth of resources at our disposal to help us understand this picture in more depth, including census records and shipping manifests, as well as records from organizations like the Rijksmuseum. By understanding the social and institutional contexts for artworks like this, we can get a sense of their significance.