Twee gezichten op Station Amsterdam Centraal, waarvan één reproductie van een prent van de nieuwe stadsherberg door Caspar Jacobsz. Philips naar Jan de Vlaming 1890 - 1900

This is an anonymous work featuring two depictions of Amsterdam Central Station, one a reproduction of a print by Caspar Jacobsz. Philips after Jan de Vlaming. The composition divides the page into two distinct registers, each presenting a different face of the same locale across time. Above, we see a historical view, rendered with delicate lines to capture a bustling harbor scene, full of ships. The lower image presents a more modern depiction of the station itself. The subdued palette and the finely detailed lines throughout both images draw our attention to the transformation of Amsterdam's urban landscape. The contrast between the maritime activity of the past and the architectural presence of the station in the present invites us to consider the evolving identity of the city. This juxtaposition functions as a semiotic marker, contrasting the historical reliance on waterborne trade with the emergence of rail transport. The artist prompts us to reflect on the dialectic between progress and preservation inherent in urban development.