Prospekt af Rådhuset på Nytorv i København 1756

Jonas Haas created this print of 'Prospekt af Rådhuset på Nytorv i København', offering us a glimpse into 18th-century Copenhagen. Made during a time of significant social stratification, cityscapes like this were not just neutral depictions; they were carefully constructed to reflect the values and power structures of the era. Consider the figures populating the square; their placement and attire subtly hint at the class distinctions of the time. Haas was working in the visual language of the elite, producing images that affirmed their status and worldview. The print shows in great detail the architecture. But who had access to this architecture? Who was excluded? What we see, and what is left out, speaks volumes about the cultural and social norms of the period. This print, while seemingly a straightforward depiction of a city square, is really a carefully constructed narrative about power, identity, and belonging in 18th century Copenhagen.