Historische plattegrond van Leiden 1712

This is an anonymous print of Leiden, made sometime in the early modern period. The image is a bird’s eye view of the city, surrounded by a moat. The title translates as ‘The Old City of Leiden.’ As a historian, what strikes me about the image is the way it represents civic space. We see not only streets and buildings, but also institutions such as the ‘Gevangsh’, or prison, and the ‘Weeshagr’, or orphanage. These speak to Leiden’s development as a centre of commerce and governance. Situated in the Netherlands, a region known for its mercantile power, Leiden was also a university town with strong religious institutions. We can use archives and other historical records to better understand the social relations represented here, and to consider how institutions and economic structures affected everyday life. The value of art lies in how it can enhance our understanding of the past.