Kade in een stad 1855 - 1881

Coen Metzelaar made this drawing, entitled "Quay in a City," using pen and ink. The image presents us with a bustling urban scene, likely in the Netherlands, given the artist's nationality and the architecture depicted. Metzelaar, working in the late 19th century, captures the essence of a working waterfront. We see figures engaged in commerce and daily life, rendered with an emphasis on line and form. The quayside building, probably for storage and trade, sits alongside sailing vessels and buildings. This was a period of significant urban and industrial development in the Netherlands. To fully understand this drawing, one would need to delve into the archives of the city itself, looking at maps and trade records from the time. This image is a window into the social conditions and economic activities that shaped the Netherlands.