Ontwerp voor wandschildering in de Beurs van Berlage: tsaar Peter de Grote, die door burgemeester Nicolaas Witsen in de zeevaartkunde wordt onderwezen 1869 - 1925

Antoon Derkinderen made this drawing, in which Peter the Great is taught about seafaring by Nicolaas Witsen, as a study for a mural in the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam. The Berlage Exchange, built between 1896 and 1903, was designed as a total work of art, meant to symbolize the values of Dutch society. The murals were intended to evoke the city's history, the power of trade and Dutch cultural achievements. Here, the young Tsar Peter is receiving instruction from the Amsterdam mayor Nicolaas Witsen, a powerful figure in the Dutch East India Company. The image suggests that Dutch expertise and knowledge is being passed to Russia, a subtle commentary on the cultural and economic power of the Netherlands. It’s interesting to note that the artist’s interpretation of this historical encounter is part of a larger narrative about national identity and progress. To fully understand this artwork, we might delve into the archives of the Berlage Exchange or research the biographies of the figures represented. Each artwork is contingent on a specific time and place.