Plattegrond van de eerste verdieping ('twede Grondt') van het Stadhuis op de Dam 1661

Curator: The print, Dancker Danckerts' 1661 "Plattegrond van de eerste verdieping ('twede Grondt') van het Stadhuis op de Dam," uses etching on paper to depict an architectural plan. Editor: Right. I find the intricate details quite fascinating for a building plan, as it showcases what a building could offer. What can you tell me about it? Curator: We see here not just the architectural design, but a record of labor and resource extraction. Consider the paper itself, how it was made, who produced it. And the ink – its composition, trade routes involved. Even the etching process, the artisan's skill, and time involved in replication—all signify choices regarding labor and resources, don't you think? Editor: Absolutely. So, are you suggesting we view this not just as a representation, but as an object embedded in a network of production and consumption? Curator: Precisely. The Stadhuis itself was a symbol of civic power, and its plan reflects Dutch Golden Age aspirations, the material manifestation of societal ideals. Editor: But wouldn't the purpose of it to be purely functional? A schematic for builders? Curator: But "function" itself is a social construct. Who defined that function? Who benefitted? A focus on material lets us look beyond the surface and examine these fundamental social elements. Editor: That's insightful. It shifts the focus from aesthetic appreciation to a critical understanding of production and social significance. Thanks! Curator: And seeing a building plan as something born from a series of human inputs—labor, trade, access—connects it deeply to the historical and economic forces at play.