Gezicht op Rotterdam over het water 1910

Simon Moulijn made this print of Rotterdam over the water, using graphite, at the turn of the century. We see the river, boats, steam, and the skyline of a great industrial city. But Rotterdam was also a city of contrasts at this time. Rapid industrial growth created unprecedented wealth for some, but also widespread poverty for others. Old ways of life were being disrupted, and new social tensions were emerging. Moulijn's print captures this moment of transition. The steamship represents the new industrial economy, while the sailboats recall an older, more traditional way of life. The artist was clearly engaged with the social realities of his time, but his work also invites us to reflect on our own relationship to the past and the future. To understand this print more deeply, we might research the economic history of Rotterdam, the development of its port, and the social movements that emerged in response to industrialization.