Gezicht op de Waag te Leiden 1880 - 1910

Römmler & Jonas’ photograph captures the Waag building in Leiden. The Waag, or weighing house, was historically central to civic life, a place where goods were weighed and traded, and taxes were levied. This photograph freezes a moment in time; the black and white tones evoke a feeling of distance. Yet it also invites reflection on the relationship between commerce and community. The figures along the waterfront appear anonymous, but each represents a participant in the economic and social fabric of the city. How did gender and class shape their roles within this urban landscape? The Waag building stands as a symbol of civic authority and economic exchange. But what stories do its stones conceal about those who labored within its walls, and those who were excluded from its privileges? Consider how spaces like the Waag both define and divide communities, creating visible and invisible barriers.