Hand-coloured engraving – The Buitenhof, The Hague – Gerrit van Giessen, c. 1735

A particularly charming and lively 18th-century hand-colored engraving depicting a view of the historic Buitenhof in The Hague. This print was produced around 1735 by the engraver Gerrit van Giessen, an artist known for his detailed topographical cityscapes.

The engraving shows the lively square of the Buitenhof, right next to the Hofvijver. In the foreground, a beautiful scene of 18th-century city life unfolds: horsemen ride onto the square, preceded by trumpeters announcing their arrival. Pedestrians and passers-by fill the square, giving the depiction a lively dynamic. It is precisely this kind of detail that makes these prints so appealing; one looks not only at a cityscape but, as it were, at a moment from daily life almost three centuries ago.

At the top of the print, the title is elegantly displayed on a ribbon: “’t BUITEN-HOF”. At the bottom, the print is signed “G. v. Giessen del.”, with the publisher Reinier Boitet mentioned. The print originally appeared in the monumental book by Jacob de Riemer, “Beschryving van ’s-Graven-Hage…”, published in Delft and The Hague between 1730 and 1739. This work is among the important historical descriptions of the city and contained numerous engravings of well-known places in The Hague.

The print is hand-colored, giving it a warm and lively appearance. The combination of the fine line work of the etching and the subtle colors truly brings the scene to life, as if one steps back into 18th-century The Hague, where carriages, riders, and city dwellers populate the square.

A beautiful collector's item for lovers of topographical prints, Dutch history, or The Hague, but also a particularly decorative piece that exudes atmosphere and history.

Dimensions: approx. 36.8 × 32 cm
Condition: Good