Registering of the Paupers, Stone Tablet from the Facade of the Nieuwezijds Huiszittenhuis in Amsterdam 1649

Willem de Keyser’s “Registering of the Paupers” is a stone relief sculpture depicting a scene from the daily life of 17th-century Amsterdam. Created in 1649, the artwork features a group of poor people registering at the Nieuwezijds Huiszittenhuis, an Amsterdam institution that provided aid to the city’s impoverished residents. De Keyser’s detailed work is a testament to the social realism of the Dutch Golden Age, capturing the hardship and vulnerability of the city’s underclass. It is a valuable historical document providing insight into the social welfare systems of the time. The sculpture is crafted in high relief, creating a three-dimensional effect that draws the viewer into the scene.