Gezicht op de Regulierswaag te Amsterdam Possibly 1710 - 1766

Here we have an engraving of the Reguliers Weighing House in Amsterdam. The anonymous artist uses line work to carefully depict the architecture, figures and textures in the scene. The building’s façade is structured with a symmetrical layout of columns, arched entrances and rectangular windows, which create a sense of balance and order. The geometric shapes and precise lines define its form, while the detailed rendering of its surface adds depth. Through the use of semiotics, one could interpret the Weighing House as a signifier of commerce and civic regulation. The figures engaged in trade and the presence of scales point to a structured system of exchange. The artist uses a combination of vertical and horizontal lines which gives a sense of grounded order.