Amsterdam Stock Exchange 1930

Anton Schutz made this etching of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, and wow, it's like stepping back in time, right? The image comes into being through the layering of lines. Those arches frame the scene, drawing your eye into the heart of the city, where buildings huddle together like they're sharing secrets. I wonder if Schutz felt a bit like an architect himself while making it, building the composition bit by bit, line by line? Maybe he was thinking about how money moves through a city, unseen, like the wind? There’s something sturdy and permanent about the architecture, which is contrasted with the hustle and bustle of figures moving about the townscape. It reminds me of Piranesi’s architectural prints of Rome, but with a slightly lighter touch. When we look at prints, we’re always looking at a conversation across time between artists and their work. I love that! It embraces ambiguity, letting different meanings arise, rather than sticking to just one.