Gezicht op het Oudezijds Huiszittenhuis van Amsterdam 1680 - 1782

Jan Goeree made this print of the Oudezijds Huiszittenhuis, a charitable institution in Amsterdam, sometime around the turn of the 18th century. The work provides insight into the visual culture of the Dutch Golden Age and its particular approach to civic duty. Goeree’s print presents two views of the building. The upper panel offers a street-level view, while the lower panel depicts the building's inner courtyard. Note the figures populating the scenes. They indicate the social function of the building and emphasize the importance of charity in Dutch society. The symmetrical composition and meticulous detail reflect the Dutch emphasis on order, prosperity, and civic virtue. To fully understand the print, scholars often consult city archives, institutional records, and period documents. These can reveal much about the history of social welfare, urban development, and the role of art in shaping public perception. In this way, we can consider art as a product of social and institutional forces.