Gezicht op de oostzijde van de Vondelkerk te Amsterdam

About this artwork

height 295 mm x width 166 mm

Art Historical Context

This etching by Dutch artist Petrus Johannes Arendzen offers a detailed view of the eastern facade of the Vondelkerk, a notable church in Amsterdam. Created between 1880 and 1885, the work captures the building’s distinctive neo-Gothic features at a moment when the structure had recently been completed. The format, measuring 295 by 166 millimeters, emphasizes the church’s soaring lines and intricate stonework, inviting viewers to appreciate its architectural presence within the urban landscape. Etching was a favored medium in the late nineteenth century for rendering precise architectural subjects. Arzen’s use of fine, controlled lines allows for delicate shading and texture, highlighting the contrast between light and shadow across the facade. Such prints played an important role in documenting and disseminating images of significant buildings before widespread photography. As a record of Amsterdam’s built environment, the etching reflects the period’s interest in preserving visual memories of historic and newly constructed landmarks. It remains a valuable example of how printmaking bridged fine art and architectural documentation for both contemporary audiences and later generations.

About the Artist

Petrus Johannes Arendzen · 1855–1935

Petrus Johannes Arendzen (1846–1932) was a Dutch etcher, draughtsman, and painter who dedicated his career to creating reproductive etchings of Dutch paintings in English collections while living in England from 1873 onward. Born in Amsterdam in 1846, Arendzen married Epiphania, daughter of Johan Stracké, and left his native city to pursue a unique commission from the Dutch Government: to copy the...