Nieuwjaarswens van de Amsterdamse waldiepers voor het jaar 1845 1844 - 1845

This is "Nieuwjaarswens van de Amsterdamse waldiepers voor het jaar 1845," or "New Year's Greetings from the Amsterdam Mudflat Runners for the Year 1845," made by Jacob Coldewijn. The monochromatic print shows a scene framed by a decorative border at the top, with text below. The lines are precise, giving the image a structured, almost architectural feel. The visual elements are carefully arranged to lead the eye through the scene. The perspective, though somewhat flattened, creates depth. The texture, achieved through fine hatching, adds a tactile quality to the depiction of the buildings and figures. The light and shadow, rendered through variations in line density, provide a sense of form to the figures, and the mood is one of industriousness and civic pride. The composition reflects the order and rationality valued during this period. The print's structure and clarity are themselves a statement about the values of Dutch society in 1845: organized, industrious, and hopeful for the new year.