Twee stadsgezichten te Amsterdam: Waag op Nieuwmarkt en Regulierswaag 1786 - 1792

Carel Frederik Bendorp created this print of two Amsterdam cityscapes sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. It depicts two 'waags,' or weighing houses, that played a crucial role in the city's economic life. The image offers a glimpse into the social and institutional fabric of Amsterdam during the Dutch Golden Age and its aftermath. These weighing houses were not merely places for commerce; they were also social hubs where goods were inspected and taxed, reflecting the power of the city's merchant class. The architecture of the buildings themselves – the St. Antonies Waag with its medieval character, and the Reguliers Waag with its more neoclassical design – speaks to the evolving aesthetic tastes and economic priorities of the time. To fully understand the image, we can delve into archival records, guild regulations, and maps of Amsterdam. By doing so, we can understand how the artist situates these buildings within the social and economic life of the city. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.