De Waag op de Westermarkt te Amsterdam 1857

Pieter Oosterhuis captured this albumen print of De Waag on the Westermarkt in Amsterdam sometime in the mid-19th century. The image presents a market building, a site of commerce and civic life, reflecting the Netherlands' strong mercantile history. The building's architecture, with its prominent gables and orderly windows, speaks to the values of the Dutch Golden Age: order, prosperity, and civic pride. Yet the photograph itself, a relatively new technology, represents a shift away from traditional artistic representation and towards a more objective, mechanical recording of reality. Consider that The Rijksmuseum, where this photograph is housed, was itself founded in the early 19th century to showcase Dutch art and history, playing a role in shaping national identity. Studying archival materials and the history of photography helps us understand how Oosterhuis' work fits into the broader cultural landscape of his time, showing us how art both reflects and shapes society.