Keizersgracht bij de Reguliersgracht in Amsterdam c. 1860 - 1875

This photograph, *Keizersgracht bij de Reguliersgracht in Amsterdam*, captures a street scene in Amsterdam, likely from the late 19th century, with an anonymous photographer behind the lens. The image presents a narrow slice of Dutch society, framed by the grand canal houses and the quiet Keizersgracht. The composition hints at the rigid social structures of the time. We catch a glimpse of figures who seem to be domestic staff; they are captured lingering by the steps of the canal houses, in contrast to the unseen residents and their horse-drawn carriage moving in the distance. The canal itself, while a source of commerce and connection, also signifies a division between public and private, between labor and leisure. It invites us to consider the lives and labors of those who maintained the facade of prosperity in this urban landscape. What stories are not being told in this depiction of everyday life?