Gezicht op het Aalmoezeniersweeshuis te Amsterdam (middelste deel) 1758

Jan Punt created this print of the Aalmoezeniers Orphanage in Amsterdam sometime in the 18th century. It captures a moment in the daily life of the orphanage, a place that existed at the intersection of charity, social control, and the lives of the city’s most vulnerable children. Orphanages like this one were products of their time, reflecting the prevailing attitudes toward poverty, childhood, and social responsibility. Here, the building itself projects an imposing presence. It's a structured, orderly space set against the organic movement of the water. Inside, the children would have been educated and trained in trades, preparing them for a life of work and contribution to society, but also instilling the values and norms of the dominant culture. This image then isn't just a portrait of a building; it's a window into the complex web of social, economic, and moral forces that shaped the lives of countless individuals. What do you feel when you consider this institutional structure as the home for a child?