Rivier in een stad before 1892

"Rivier in een stad," or River in a City, is a print of unknown date by de Groot. It gives us a glimpse into the landscape of the artist's time. This image encapsulates the layered identities within a bustling city. The artist's choice to depict a river scene is interesting. Rivers have historically served as vital arteries for trade, transport, and connection, yet this etching captures the ways in which the river can also divide social classes. We see figures from different walks of life - the gentry in their horse-drawn carriage, the workers on the boat, and a woman standing alone on the dock. The print invites us to reflect on how urban spaces are shaped by our interactions. It asks us to consider whose stories are told and whose are overlooked in the grand narrative of the city.