Amsterdam Orphanage 1876

Max Liebermann's "Amsterdam Orphanage" (1876) depicts a group of women and girls in traditional Dutch clothing seated in the courtyard of an Amsterdam orphanage. The scene is rendered in a realistic style, characteristic of Liebermann's early work, and captures the quiet, everyday life of the orphanage's inhabitants. The painting's composition emphasizes the contrast between the enclosed space of the courtyard and the open sky beyond, suggesting a sense of both confinement and freedom. "Amsterdam Orphanage" is a notable example of Liebermann's early exploration of social realism and his fascination with everyday life in his native Amsterdam.