Gezicht op een deel van Perth, vanuit het noorden 1801 - 1802

James Fittler made this print of Perth in Scotland in the late 18th or early 19th century. It gives us a glimpse into the commercial life of the city at that time. Notice the figures in the foreground, perhaps engaged in trade or simply enjoying the riverside. The architecture suggests a blend of residential and commercial spaces, hinting at the economic activities that sustained the community. The print's emphasis on trade aligns with the historical context of the period, a time of increasing commercial activity and urban development in Scotland. The vantage point from the north is also interesting. Was this direction chosen to highlight specific aspects of the city's infrastructure or economic activity? To fully understand this image, historians would need to look at maps, trade records, and other visual representations of Perth from the time. This print reminds us that art is always rooted in the social and institutional context of its creation.