Gezicht op de voormalige Portugese Synagoge aan de Houtgracht te Amsterdam c. 1695

This is Romeyn de Hooghe’s etching of the former Portuguese Synagogue on the Houtgracht in Amsterdam. The image invites us to consider the complex interplay of religious identity, social status, and cultural integration in 17th-century Amsterdam. De Hooghe, a Dutch artist, situates the grand synagogue within the bustling city. The presence of horse-drawn carriages and well-dressed figures suggests the integration of the Jewish community into Amsterdam's economic and social life, yet the inscription labels it the "former" synagogue, hinting at displacement and change. Consider how this image reflects Amsterdam’s unique position as a relatively tolerant city, but also gestures towards the subtle forms of exclusion and alteration experienced by its Jewish population. What does it mean for a space of worship to be remembered as "former"? De Hooghe captures a moment in time that prompts us to reflect on the fluid and contested nature of religious and cultural identity.