Stadsarmeninrichting in Zwolle 1832 - 1845

Antoine Franciscus Cornelis Hoffmann created this print of the ‘Stadsarmeninrichting in Zwolle’ in the Netherlands. The print depicts a city workhouse, an institution designed to provide employment for the poor. Looking at this image, we can consider how the building becomes a symbol of social control. In 19th-century Netherlands, poverty was seen as a moral failing, and institutions like the workhouse aimed to instill discipline and work ethic. The building is presented as orderly, rational, and separate from the natural world. The windmill in the background reminds us that this is a place of work and productivity. What does it mean when someone’s home is also their workplace? How do those social dynamics influence the creation of art? Was this image commissioned or made independently? Studying the history of social institutions and the visual culture surrounding them helps us understand the complex relationship between art and social structures. The records of city councils and charitable organizations can shed light on the intentions behind these institutions and their impact on the lives of the poor.