Edammerpoort te Purmerend 1751 - 1799

Jacob Cats created this drawing of the Edammerpoort in Purmerend, using pen and gray ink, and gray wash around the late 18th century. The Edammerpoort was built in 1594 as a gateway to the city. But this isn't just a neutral record of a place; it's an image made in a particular time, with its own social codes. Dutch art of this period frequently celebrated the virtues of civic life, and the imposing gateway suggests a sense of order and prosperity. Notice the figures in the foreground. How might their clothing or postures reflect the social hierarchy of the time? How do they relate to the architecture? To understand Cats's drawing fully, we can consult city archives, historical maps, and period documents that shed light on the functions and social life around this monument. Only then can we interpret the drawing as more than just a picture, but as a cultural artifact.