Gezicht op de Waag te Leiden 1827 - 1875

Paulus Lauters created this print of the Weigh House at Leiden using lithography sometime in the mid-19th century. Lithographs like this one offered a view of the civic architecture of the Netherlands to a wide audience. In the 19th century, the Netherlands looked to its past to help define itself as a nation. Here, the artist gives us a very clear, almost photographic, depiction of the Weigh House. Built in 1657, the building was used to weigh goods and levy taxes. The architecture conveys a sense of civic pride and order. The image idealizes the scene somewhat, omitting things like dirt and garbage that would have been part of the urban experience. To understand this print better, we might look to city archives to learn about the building and its place in the local economy. Prints like this one reflect the values of the rising middle class and their need for reassurance about the stability of Dutch society.