Gevangenis aan de Weteringschans te Amsterdam, 1848 1847 - 1848

Carel Christiaan Antony Last made this lithograph of the prison at Weteringschans in Amsterdam in 1848. Its visual codes and historical associations offer a glimpse into the social and institutional history of the time. In the 19th century, prisons were more than just places of punishment. They were also meant to rehabilitate and reform. This image of the prison shows us how the architecture was designed to reflect these ideas. The orderly structure and clean lines suggest a place of discipline and control. The windmills in the background, a quintessential Dutch image, may allude to the ceaseless work required for societal progress. This lithograph was made at a time of social change in the Netherlands, with debates around crime and punishment. By studying archival records and legal documents, we can better understand the changing attitudes toward crime and punishment in the 19th century. This helps us interpret the meaning of art as something that is contingent on social and institutional context.