Gezicht op het Admiraliteitsmagazijn te Amsterdam Possibly 1752 - 1754

Robert Sayer created this print of the Admiraliteitsmagazijn in Amsterdam, using engraving and etching techniques. The image showcases the bustling activity around the storehouse and docks, reflecting the economic power of the Dutch East India Company in the 18th century. Made in England, the print highlights England's fascination with the Dutch Republic, its main commercial and military competitor. Amsterdam was then one of the world's most important port cities, and it was closely associated with the Dutch East India Company. This Company practically had a monopoly over trade routes to Asia. It possessed enormous economic and political power, and the wealth it accumulated transformed the social and physical landscape of Amsterdam. Historians use sources such as company records, trade statistics, and urban development plans to reveal the complex social and institutional networks that shaped artistic production and the representation of commerce in art.