Alexanderstraat in Den Haag 1859 - 1865

Pieter Oosterhuis created this stereograph of Alexander Street in The Hague sometime in the mid-19th century. In the Netherlands at this time, photography was not simply a tool for documentation but also a means of shaping cultural memory and national identity. The choice of subject matter is key. Alexander Street, with its grand buildings, symbolizes Dutch prosperity and order. Oosterhuis, working in a period of rapid urbanization, seems to present the city as a stage for social life. The clean, wide streets and orderly architecture speak to a society that values structure and progress. However, the absence of people raises questions. Is this a celebration of civic achievement, or a commentary on the alienation of modern life? These are the sorts of questions that art historians ask. By researching archives, newspapers, and other period documents, we can better understand the social forces that shaped this image and its meaning.