Doorsnede van een stadspand c. 1864

Willem Springer Jr. made this cross-section of a city building in the Netherlands sometime in the 19th century, probably with pen and ink. This image offers a glimpse into the social and architectural structures of the time. The drawing gives us insights into the domestic life of the Dutch, their values, and how wealth and class were reflected in the architecture of their homes. The precise lines and technical nature suggest that the artist may have been trained in an institution that promoted certain formal conventions. The Netherlands in the 19th century was a society undergoing rapid change, and architecture was at the forefront of this. The design is not just about aesthetics; it is also about the economics of space, the practicality of living, and the expression of societal values. To fully understand the context of this work, one might delve into archives of architectural plans, city records, and social histories of Dutch urban life during the 19th century.