Interieur van de Westerkerk te Amsterdam c. 1770 - 1783

Cornelis Bogerts made this print of the Westerkerk in Amsterdam around the turn of the 19th century. The church, built in the first half of the 17th century, became an important cultural and social landmark in Amsterdam. Bogerts’ print provides a glimpse into the gendered and classed dynamics of Dutch society. While the church provided a public space accessible to a wide range of people, the presence of privileged people and the absence of people from lower social classes reflect the existing social hierarchies. In the foreground, a figure lies down, perhaps alluding to the disenfranchised populations within the prosperous city. This depiction offers an enduring reflection on the relationship between sacred spaces and social identity. As an artist, Bogerts captured the visual details of the church, and he also captured a snapshot of Amsterdam’s social landscape.