Gezicht op de Sassenpoort in Zwolle before 1894

This anonymous print shows the Sassenpoort in Zwolle, Netherlands. It is part of a series called 'Architectuur der Nederlanden', so likely dates from the late 19th or early 20th century. The image reflects a surge of interest in the nation’s architectural heritage. This was a time of rapid industrialization and urbanization that threatened the traditional built environment. Institutions, like the one that published this print, arose to preserve images of a disappearing past. The choice of the Sassenpoort, a medieval city gate, reflects a desire to connect to a rich civic history and a sense of Dutch identity rooted in the medieval period. To understand the print's full meaning, we need to consider the social and institutional context that produced it. Resources like city archives, architectural journals, and publications from preservation societies can help to build a more complete picture. In doing so, the interpretation of art becomes a historical endeavor.