Kermisprent van de Amsterdamse nachtwacht voor het jaar 1847 - Dirk Wijbrand Tollenaar

A detailed 1847 Dutch broadside by Dirk Wijbrand Tollenaar, featuring an ornamental frame surrounding a poem and informational text about the Amsterdam fair.

This 1847 broadside, created by the Dutch engraver Dirk Wijbrand Tollenaar, serves as a kermisprent, a traditional Dutch fair print. These ephemeral publications were produced annually to coincide with local festivities, often serving as both a souvenir and an informational guide for the public. The composition is highly structured, featuring a central text block surrounded by an elaborate, decorative border that incorporates various vignettes of Amsterdam life.

The central poem addresses the residents of Amsterdam, capturing the spirit of the annual fair. Surrounding this text are smaller illustrations depicting local landmarks, including the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, and scenes related to the city's infrastructure, such as the railway schedules for the Hollandsche IJzeren Spoorweg. The inclusion of these practical details, alongside the decorative motifs of the Amsterdam coat of arms and a lion, demonstrates the dual function of the print as a decorative object and a functional almanac for the year 1847.

Tollenaar, active in Amsterdam during the mid-nineteenth century, utilised precise line work to define the ornamental frame. The style reflects the mid-century preference for dense, balanced compositions that integrate typography with graphic illustration. The print provides a window into the urban culture of the period, documenting the intersection of civic pride, commercial activity, and seasonal celebration. The presence of the railway information is particularly notable, as it reflects the growing influence of industrialisation on traditional Dutch social life. This piece is a fine example of nineteenth-century graphic design, where the aesthetic of the frame supports the informational content of the central text, creating a cohesive visual document of Amsterdam's mid-century social calendar.