Gezicht buiten de Utrechtsepoort in Amsterdam 1725 - 1764

This etching of a scene outside Amsterdam’s Utrecht Gate was created by Gerardus Condet in the mid-18th century. Here we see an Amsterdam on the verge of modernity; the remnants of the Dutch Golden Age mix with emergent social patterns. Note the leisure activities represented, the figures strolling along the canal, the horse-drawn carriage, and the windmills, symbols of Dutch innovation and economic power. These elements indicate the social values of the Netherlands at this time. The Dutch Republic was a major center of trade and culture and Amsterdam was a hub of commerce, finance, and intellectual exchange. This bustling scene reflects a society that valued both mercantile success and civic engagement. By examining city records, period newspapers, and the records of local guilds, we can learn more about Condet's Amsterdam. The meanings we attribute to art always depend on the social and institutional contexts.