Artwork

The Bookshop and Lottery Agency of Jan de Groot in the Kalverstraat in Amsterdam

The Bookshop and Lottery Agency of Jan de Groot in the Kalverstraat in Amsterdam is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Isaac Ouwater. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

As an architectural cityscape, the work functions as a documentary record of a real-world business rather than an allegorical scene containing hidden symbolism.

The painting depicts the specific commercial establishment of Jan de Groot, identifying it as both a bookshop and a lottery agency located on the Kalverstraat in Amsterdam. As an architectural cityscape, the work functions as a documentary record of a real-world business rather than an allegorical scene containing hidden symbolism. The title explicitly defines the subject matter, focusing on the storefront and its dual role in the cultural and financial life of the city.

Consequently, the meaning of the piece lies in its faithful representation of a prominent 18th-century Amsterdam merchant and his enterprise, capturing the physical appearance of the building without employing broader iconographic metaphors.

Technique & Style

The Bookshop and Lottery Agency of Jan de Groot in the Kalverstraat in Amsterdam is an oil painting executed on canvas, a combination typical of late-eighteenth-century Dutch cityscapes. Classified as a painting and genre work, it belongs to the architectural painting tradition, depicting a specific Amsterdam streetscape. The work measures 38.5 cm in height by 33.5 cm in width, a modest, intimate scale suited to detailed urban views.

Created in 1779 by Isaac Ouwater, the canvas is held in the collections of the Rijksmuseum and the Amsterdam Museum. No additional information on handling, condition, or specific stylistic qualities is documented in the available sources.

History & Provenance

Isaac Ouwater created this architectural painting in 1779. The work, executed in oil on canvas, depicts the bookshop and lottery agency of Jan de Groot located on the Kalverstraat in Amsterdam. Produced in the Netherlands, the piece measures 38.5 cm in height and 33.5 cm in width. The painting is currently held in the collections of the Rijksmuseum and the Amsterdam Museum.

Overview

Painted in 1790 by Isaac Ouwater, this oil-on-canvas work depicts a bustling urban storefront in Amsterdam’s Kalverstraat. The scene centers on a narrow, multi-story building housing a bookshop and lottery agency, both visible through large ground-floor windows. The painting captures the rhythm of daily commerce, with a diverse crowd gathered outside, suggesting the street’s role as a social and economic hub in late 18th-century Amsterdam.

Context

In late 18th-century Amsterdam, Kalverstraat was a major commercial artery where books, lottery tickets, and other goods were sold openly to the public. Lottery agencies, often state-sanctioned, drew broad participation, while bookshops catered to a growing literate middle class. This painting captures the convergence of commerce, literacy, and public spectacle characteristic of the city’s urban fabric.

Legacy

The work remains a quiet but valuable record of Amsterdam’s street life during a period of civic expansion. Unlike grand historical paintings, it offers an unembellished glimpse into ordinary commerce and social interaction. Its preservation in the Rijksmuseum affirms its role as a documentary artifact, contributing to the study of Dutch urban culture beyond elite narratives.