Gezicht op de Utrechtsepoort en Eerste Regulierspoort te Amsterdam - Jan Goeree

A detailed historical etching by Jan Goeree depicting the Utrechtsepoort and Eerste Regulierspoort in Amsterdam.

This print by Jan Goeree presents two distinct views of historical Amsterdam fortifications. The upper panel depicts the Utrechtsepoort, showing the drawbridge mechanism and the surrounding water defences. The lower panel illustrates the Eerste Regulierspoort as it appeared in 1552, viewed from within the city walls. Goeree, a prolific draughtsman and engraver, specialised in documenting the architectural history of the Netherlands. His work often appeared in historical chronicles and topographical surveys of the period.

The composition relies on precise line work to delineate the masonry of the gates and the structural details of the wooden bridges. The artist employs a clear, objective perspective, typical of eighteenth-century Dutch topographical illustration. Figures are included in the foreground of both scenes, providing a sense of scale and daily activity near these defensive structures. The sky in the lower panel is rendered with subtle hatching, suggesting the atmospheric conditions of the day.

These images offer a record of urban development in Amsterdam before the city underwent significant expansion. The inclusion of dates and descriptive captions within the plate indicates that this print functioned as an educational or archival document. The clarity of the etching allows for close inspection of the architectural features, such as the crenellations, the clock face on the Regulierspoort, and the counterweights of the drawbridge. This print is a representative example of the Dutch tradition of recording civic history through graphic media. It provides a view into the defensive infrastructure that once defined the boundaries of the city.