Het stadhuis van Delft 1780 - 1836

Johannes Jelgerhuis created this wash drawing of Delft's city hall. The architectural structure looms in the background, while in the foreground, we see a bustling marketplace filled with vendors and shoppers. Reflecting the era's social dynamics, the marketplace is more than a site of commerce. It's a stage where identities intersect and societal roles are reinforced. The vendors, presumably of the working class, conduct their business in the shadow of the imposing city hall, a symbol of authority and governance. Jelgerhuis invites us to consider the relationship between the governing body and the working class. Although the drawing appears documentary, it also hints at the social stratification inherent in 18th and 19th century Dutch society. It’s an invitation to reflect on the stories embedded in the urban landscape, and the lives of those who animated it.