Plattegrond van Amsterdam met stadsgezicht 1611 - 1614

This is an anonymous engraving showing a bird’s-eye view and map of Amsterdam. Without a known artist, it’s difficult to pinpoint individual intentions; however, the print encapsulates the Dutch Republic’s 17th-century Golden Age, a period marked by unprecedented economic and cultural flourishing. Amsterdam, prominently labeled as "Amstelodamum Emporium," highlights its significance as a center of trade and global exchange, yet this prosperity obscures the city's reliance on enslaved labor and colonial exploitation. The detailed rendering of the urban landscape reinforces a sense of ownership and control, reflecting the values of a society structured by class hierarchies and patriarchal norms. The cartographic precision of the print suggests a desire to document and codify the urban space, which maintains traditional representations of power and wealth, while developing narratives of global expansion. This print invites us to consider the complex interplay between urban development, economic expansion, and the hidden histories of colonialism and social inequality.