Gezicht op de oude jachthaven te Amsterdam, gezien richting het bolwerk Leeuwenburg ofwel Blauwhoofd 1753 - 1799

Editor: This watercolor piece, "Gezicht op de oude jachthaven te Amsterdam," or "View of the Old Marina in Amsterdam" by Pierre Fouquet, made sometime between 1753 and 1799, is remarkably detailed. It’s a bustling harbor scene, but there’s almost a stillness to it. How do you interpret this work? Curator: I see a careful documentation of Amsterdam's maritime industry, depicted through the materiality of its infrastructure. Fouquet uses watercolor to render not just the light and atmosphere, but also the tangible elements of production: the wharves, the ships, and even the windmills in the background. How does the plein-air method impact this representation? Editor: Well, doing the work outdoors surely emphasizes the relationship between the city, its harbor, and the surrounding environment... Curator: Exactly. The painting isn't just about the beauty of the scene; it’s a record of how materials – wood, canvas, brick – are assembled to facilitate trade and movement. Consider the social context: Amsterdam in this era was a center of global commerce. This image, through its careful attention to detail, becomes a testament to the city's economic power, represented by the labour involved in maintaining that industrial scene. Editor: It’s fascinating how much we can learn about 18th-century Amsterdam just by examining the construction and materials shown in this artwork! Curator: Indeed. By focusing on these tangible aspects, we shift away from solely appreciating artistic skill and start to consider the economic and social forces that shaped the art. Editor: I never really considered how artistic choices about materials could express societal values in that way. Thank you!