Drie jongens bij een fontein op het Beursplein te Amsterdam 1904

James Higson made this photograph of three boys by a fountain in Amsterdam. The Beursplein, or Stock Exchange Square, would have been the center of commerce in the city. Higson gives us a glimpse into the lives of working-class children at this time. The boys appear to be taking a break from their labor to refresh themselves at the public fountain. They are dressed in simple, functional clothing, and their bare feet suggest a life of hardship. The fountain itself, a public amenity, stands in contrast to the grand architecture of the stock exchange in the background. This juxtaposition highlights the economic disparities of the time. As art historians, we can look to period documents, social surveys, and other visual materials to learn more about the lives of children in Amsterdam at this time. By doing so, we can better understand the social conditions that shaped this image and its meaning.