Hotel De Oude Doelen in Den Haag 1818 - 1876

Carel Christiaan Antony Last made this print of the Hotel De Oude Doelen in Den Haag at an unknown date. It captures a moment of Dutch society in the 19th century. The hotel itself, prominently displayed, was more than just a building; it was a social institution. Hotels served as meeting points for various classes, and offered neutral territory for discussions. The image, with its detailed depiction of the building’s facade, carriages, and people, suggests the prosperity and orderliness that the Dutch bourgeoisie aspired to. The scene almost certainly depicts the elite of The Hague coming and going. Note the men in military uniforms, and the well-dressed women accompanied by dogs; such details give us an insight into the values of the middle class. To truly understand this image, we might delve into local archives, city directories, and period newspapers. Such resources would help us understand the social and institutional context of the Hotel De Oude Doelen. Art history, after all, is inseparable from social history.