Uitzicht op huizen in Amsterdam 1880

This cityscape of Amsterdam was sketched by Maxime Lalanne in the 19th century. Dominating the scene, we see rooftops with hanging laundry, which is a common daily practice. The image encapsulates the essence of domestic life transposed into the public sphere. Consider how laundry, typically concealed, here becomes a spectacle. The ritual of washing and drying clothes, universally essential, carries with it layers of meaning. Think of Sophocles’ play, Ajax, where washing symbolizes purification, or Christ washing his Apostle’s feet. In this drawing, the laundry’s presence is an act of defiance and vulnerability. The clothes are also reminiscent of flags or banners hung during festivals and celebrations. They are a symbol of both labor and celebration, domesticity and display, capturing the duality inherent in everyday life. The image plays on this collective memory, reminding us of how the mundane touches the profound.