Gezicht op de Dam met de sigarenwinkel van de Gebroeders van Haagen en het Koninklijk College Zeemanshoop in Amsterdam, met aan de linkerzijde de Beurssteeg 1860 - 1890

This is Andries Jager's photograph of the Dam Square in Amsterdam, captured in a gelatin silver print. The photograph presents a symmetrical composition dominated by the architecture of the buildings, creating a somewhat rigid and formal atmosphere. Jager uses the lens to construct a very specific reality. The buildings, with their intricate facades and varying heights, line up almost like a stage set. Note the contrast between the solid, imposing structures and the sparse human presence in the square. This contrast could reflect a tension between the individual and the structures of commerce and society. The Beurssteeg, visible on the left, suggests a world of trade and transactions just beyond the frame. The muted tones contribute to the sense of a world observed rather than directly experienced, inviting us to reflect on the nature of urban life and the individual's place within it. This is not just a picture; it is a carefully constructed representation of a moment in time.