De Slootstraat te Amsterdam 1870 - 1926

Willem Wenckebach made this work, "De Slootstraat te Amsterdam," with pen in the late 19th or early 20th century. It depicts the Slootstraat, a real location in Amsterdam. The image showcases the city's architecture, with its characteristic narrow houses and steep staircases leading to the front doors, a necessity given the cramped urban spaces. The artist’s choice to represent this street scene speaks to the growing interest in portraying everyday life and the urban environment. Wenckebach captures the essence of Amsterdam's unique urban fabric, reflecting the social conditions that shaped its development. This type of artwork helps us see how artists responded to their immediate surroundings, and, as art historians, we can use historical maps, photographs, and municipal archives to further enrich our understanding. By doing so, the meaning of the artwork is contingent on its social and institutional context.