Gezicht op de Noordermarkt in Amsterdam 1938

Frans Everbag made this etching titled 'Gezicht op de Noordermarkt in Amsterdam', which translates to 'View of the Noordermarkt in Amsterdam', in the early twentieth century. Here, Everbag depicts the Noordermarkt, a square in the Jordaan neighborhood of Amsterdam known for its Saturday market. We see the characteristic architecture of Amsterdam, with its narrow houses and stepped gables. The bare trees suggest it is winter, yet there are still a few people milling about. Everbag was part of a generation of Dutch artists who documented urban life. Amsterdam, during this period, was experiencing rapid social and economic change. Artists like Everbag were concerned with capturing the character of the city before it disappeared, and they were interested in promoting an image of the Netherlands as a modern nation. To understand the nuances of this etching more fully, one could consult historical maps, photographs, and municipal records to trace the evolution of the Noordermarkt and the surrounding Jordaan neighborhood.