Amsterdam in the 17th century – a city in transition
“The book ‘Rembrandt’s Amsterdam – Golden Times?multi-faceted picture of the Dutch metropolis in the 17th century.This era was characterised by an economic and cultural boom. Amsterdam developed into a world trade metropolis, characterised by the stock exchange, international trade and an influential bourgeois elite. The city was characterised not only by its economic and political power, but also by its promotion of the arts. Monumental group portraits by artists such as Rembrandt and his contemporaries reflect the pride and social fabric of this era. But prosperity was also based on colonial exploitation and social inequalities, as the book impressively shows.
© Amsterdam Museum
The heyday of art and society
One focus of the book is on analysing the Amsterdam group portraits, which serve as visual evidence of the social and political structure. These works, which were often exhibited in shooting houses or social institutions such as the Burgerweeshuis or the Aalmoezeniershuis, show the bourgeois elite in honorary positions or representative roles. However, the book goes beyond the glamorous self-portrayal and focuses on the living conditions of the lower classes: Poverty, illness and social control found expression in orphanages, penitentiaries and poorhouses. The juxtaposition of splendid portraits and Rembrandt’s sensitive depictions of beggars and the destitute, which reflect the reality of their lives, is particularly impressive.
ca. 1700, Amsterdam
© Amsterdam Museum (Leihgabe Spirit Foundation – Roman Catholic Boys’ Orphanage)
A critical look at the Golden Age
The book scrutinises the term “Golden Age”, which often one-sidedly celebrates the achievements of art and science. Essays by authors such as Tom van der Molen and Norbert Middelkoop shed light on the social and colonial contradictions of this era. They show how the wealth of the elites was based on the exploitation of people and resources and which fates were often overlooked. The detailed image analysis and the inclusion of historical documents make the ambivalences of this period tangible. Rembrandt’s Amsterdam is therefore not only a work of art history, but also a contribution to social reflection on power, social justice and historical responsibility.
Data
| Original title | Rembrandt’s Amsterdam – Golden Times? |
| Editor | Jochen Sander |
| Authors | S. Dickey, C. Gannon, N. Middelkoop, T. van der Molen, A. Reuter, J. Sander, F. Schütt, Kambis Zahedi |
| Publisher | Hirmer Verlag |
| Cover | Paperback with flaps |
| Pages | 288 pages, 222 illustrations in colour |
| Language | English |
| Dimensions | 23 x 28 cm |
| ISBN | 978-3-7774-4409-3 |
| Price | 49,90 € |
Further information
Further information on the book “Rembrandt’s Amsterdam – Golden Times?” (advertising) can be found on the Hirmer Verlag website.
Compliance
The book was kindly made available to us by the publisher. The presentation and rating of HYPERMADE remains independent of this and is based solely on the content of the book.
