Beurs van Hendrik de Keyser te Amsterdam 1680 - 1782

Jan Goeree made this print of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange sometime between 1670 and 1731, using etching and engraving techniques. These processes involve working lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then transferring the image to paper with a press. The print's lines are incredibly precise, almost like architectural drawings. The aerial view and the depiction of the Exchange on opening day suggest an intent to capture a specific moment and location. The level of detail must have required a high degree of skill and time. Prints like this were crucial for disseminating images and information, operating within a developing capitalist economy. The labor-intensive process of printmaking mirrors the labor involved in the construction and operation of the Exchange itself. Both are testaments to human effort directed towards tangible and intangible forms of value creation. Ultimately, this print invites us to consider the relationship between art, labor, and commerce in 17th and 18th-century Amsterdam, highlighting how traditional artistic methods played a role in shaping and reflecting broader economic trends.