Gezicht op de Amstel bij Pauwentuin - Matthijs Pool

An eighteenth-century etching by Matthijs Pool depicting the Amstel riverbank, featuring the Pauwentuin inn and local maritime activity.

This etching by Matthijs Pool captures a specific stretch of the Amstel river, documenting the appearance of the Pauwentuin and its associated inn during the early eighteenth century. Pool, a Dutch engraver and publisher active in Amsterdam, utilised the precise line work characteristic of the period to record the architectural and maritime details of the region. The composition is divided between the water, where small vessels navigate the river, and the riverbank, which features a row of traditional Dutch buildings and trees.

The print serves as a visual record of the recreational spaces that existed along the Amstel. The inclusion of the inn, or 'herberg', suggests the area functioned as a destination for travellers and locals alike. Pool employs varied hatching techniques to differentiate between the textures of the stone buildings, the foliage of the trees, and the movement of the water. The sky is rendered with light, horizontal strokes, providing a sense of atmosphere without distracting from the architectural subjects below.

Text at the bottom of the plate provides both French and Dutch titles, a common practice for prints intended for a wider European market. The number '3' in the corner indicates this work was part of a larger series documenting locations around Amsterdam. The perspective is relatively flat, typical of topographical prints of the era, which prioritised the clear identification of buildings and landmarks over dramatic spatial depth. This print offers a glimpse into the urban and suburban development of the Netherlands, showing how the river served as a primary artery for both commerce and leisure. The work remains a useful reference for historians interested in the topography of the Amstel riverbank during the early modern period.