Amsterdam, View of Reguliersbreestraat by Eduard Isaac Asser

Amsterdam, View of Reguliersbreestraat c. 1853

aged paper

toned paper

light pencil work

pencil sketch

sketch book

personal sketchbook

old-timey

19th century

watercolour illustration

watercolor

"Amsterdam, View of Reguliersbreestraat" is a calotype photograph by Eduard Isaac Asser, taken around 1853 and currently housed at the Rijksmuseum. The photograph captures a street scene in Amsterdam, featuring traditional Dutch architecture with gabled rooftops and rows of windows. The composition showcases the depth of the street, with the buildings receding into the distance, providing a glimpse into the daily life of 19th-century Amsterdam. Asser was a pioneer in the early development of photography in the Netherlands, his calotypes offer valuable insights into the city's urban landscape and architectural heritage.

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rijksmuseum over 1 year ago

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Many pioneers, such as Asser, experimented by taking photographs from the window of their own house. This view of Amsterdam is a version developed from a wet collodion glass negative. Asser had shot the exact same scene in 1845, but then on a paper negative. These are the earliest photographs of Amsterdam. Initially the camera was aimed at the world nearby, but it was not long before photographers ventured farther afield with their cameras and equipment.