Oude Zijds Kolk te Amsterdam 1870 - 1926

Willem Wenckebach made this print of the Oude Zijds Kolk in Amsterdam using etching. The image shows a canal scene, typical of Amsterdam, with narrow houses lining the waterway, and the tower of the Oude Kerk rising in the distance. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, artists like Wenckebach often turned to urban landscapes. They sought to capture the unique character of cities undergoing rapid change. This interest coincided with the rise of urbanism as a field of study, examining the social and economic forces shaping city life. Prints like this one were often made for a growing middle class, eager to own affordable artworks depicting their surroundings. To understand the full story of this image, historians might consult city archives, period guidebooks, and exhibition records. These sources reveal the cultural values and institutional frameworks that influenced both the production and reception of art in Amsterdam at this time. Art, in this context, becomes a window into the broader social and cultural history of the city.