‘AMSTERDAM’ is an illustration or collage, constructed from 17th - 19th century prints. It’s made to fit the the elevator’s back wall in two appartment buildings in historic Amsterdam. The objective was to create a visual experience that can be enjoyed by those new to the city (expats) and residents. It’s a blend of local Amsterdam and stereotypes, without making things too obvious.
On eye-level you are invited to move a little closer:
the Amsterdam map, surrounded by it’s streets and houses, and the people that live in them. All is resting firmly on the wooden poles Amsterdam is built on.
The frame works almost like a window, and you can experience a sense of space.
Some people will see this picture everyday so I wanted them to easily feel a connection with the city they live in now.
The red-brown steel traffic bollard (Amsterdammertje) reigns the southside of town, and if that doesn’t work the A’dam Tower will push you right back into the present.
About the Making:
The image below shows a (simplified) visualization of how the canal bridges as part of the wind rose are made:
A visualization of how drawings are sampled to create the wooden poles that represent Amsterdam’s famous foundation structure:
The traffic bollard needed the etching look while staying contemporary. It has a paper texture with line patterns placed on top. Some critical areas are finished with pen. For the metal look a photo is blended to steal it’s metallic reflections:
Source Material
Some of the prints provided by Rijksmuseum Amsterdam (Rijksstudio) and Stadsarchief Amsterdam:
STATUE OF REMBRANDT
Rembrandtplein and Reguliersdwarsstraat behind it.
Technique: lithography. Artist(s): P. Blommers, C.A.A. Last, 1874
MINERVA VISITS WOMEN WHO SPIN AND WEAVE
Story of Minerva. Presumably a trade label for a weaving mill in Amsterdam.
Technique: etching. Artist: Bernard Picart, 1717
HET KONINKLYK PALEIS | LE PALAIS DU ROI
North-west side of the Dam, with the palace and the Nieuwe Kerk.
Technique: lithography. Artist(s): Théodore Fourmois, Cornelis Springer, ca. 1845
THE SARPHATI MONUMENT
The Sarphati Park is located close to the building this work will be seen. The park is from late 19th century when photography had taken over. The wind rose center picture of the park and monument is a construction of this photo from the monument unvealing in 1886, together with several drawings of the oldest park in Amsterdam ‘Het Park’ (now Wertheimpark).
GESIGT LANGS DE BIERKAY EN GROENMARKT TE SIEN NAAR OUDE KERK TOT AMSTERDAM
View of the Oude kerk and part of Oudezijds Voorburgwal.
Technique: etching. Artist: Jan Schenk, after a drawing by Abraham Rademaker, ca 1731 - 1747