Gezicht op de Vierde Haarlemmerpoort in Amsterdam 1693

This is an anonymous etching of the Fourth Haarlemmerpoort in Amsterdam. The etching gives us a glimpse into the bustling life of 17th-century Amsterdam. The Haarlemmerpoort, more than just a physical structure, was a threshold between the city and the world. People from all walks of life passed through it. It served as a site of commerce, where merchants transported goods, as well as a place of social encounters. The artist depicts people engaged in various activities. What does it mean to create a landscape in which you exclude yourself? What does it mean to efface your own history? Despite being anonymous, the artist, whether consciously or unconsciously, imprints a perspective shaped by their unique background. This etching freezes a moment in time, inviting us to contemplate the human stories woven into the urban fabric, and think about the forces that shape the world around us.