Spotprent op de demping van het Damrak before 1887

This is Willem Steelink's "Cartoon on the damming of the Damrak," a drawing that captures a pivotal moment of urban change in Amsterdam. Steelink gives us a street-level view of the dramatic transformation of the Damrak, once a bustling waterway, now being filled in to create more land. The drawing becomes a stage for social commentary. See how Steelink juxtaposes the figures of labor with those of capital? Those who are physically reshaping the city and those who stand to benefit from it most. The artist draws our attention to the human cost of progress with the figure on the right, his face buried in his hands. The text highlights themes of loss and the emotional weight of modernization. Steelink’s image offers more than just a record, it presents a nuanced perspective on the evolution of a city, and how urban development impacts the working class.