Plattegrond van Amsterdam 1896 - 1897

This is an undated map of Amsterdam with black ink on paper by an anonymous artist. The composition is dominated by text arranged to direct the eye in a controlled and informative manner. Consider the title, "Platte Grond," and how it presents Amsterdam "in 1896/97." The city is captured within a specific timeframe. What does it mean to present a city as a fixed entity? It could suggest an attempt to define and control urban space through cartography. The map’s use of linear typography also functions semiotically. The bold, sans-serif typeface conveys a sense of modernity and efficiency. The diagonal placement of "Amsterdam in 1896/97" across the page disrupts the conventional grid, injecting dynamism into an otherwise static layout. The map not only serves as a practical guide, but also raises questions about how we perceive and represent urban environments, inviting us to consider the interplay between form, function, and ideology.