Artwork
The "Overtoom" (Portage) at Amsterdam
The "Overtoom" (Portage) at Amsterdam is an ink print by the Baroque artist Nooms, called Zeeman, Reinier. It dates from 1653 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Reinier Nooms, who signed his works as Zeeman, produced the print titled *The “Overtoom” (Portage) at Amsterdam* circa 1653.
About this work
Overview
Reinier Nooms, who signed his works as Zeeman, produced the print titled *The “Overtoom” (Portage) at Amsterdam* circa 1653. Executed on laid paper, the image combines etching with dry‑point work, presenting a bustling riverine scene that records a specific location within the city’s harbor system.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a large vessel being hauled overland along the Overtoom, a historic portage route. Laborers manage ropes, a draft animal assists, and onlookers move nearby, while the background features a sloping‑roofed building, a windmill and scattered trees, illustrating the practical interplay of commerce and urban landscape in 17th‑century Amsterdam.
Technique & Style
Nooms employed the fine, incised lines of drypoint alongside traditional etching, allowing him to render the intricate network of ropes, rigging and architectural details with remarkable precision. The monochrome palette and careful line work reflect the period’s interest in topographical accuracy and the artist’s reputation for meticulous maritime rendering.
History & Provenance
Created during the early phase of Nooms’s career, the print belongs to a series of highly finished images intended as visual references for fellow painters and draughtsmen. Copies of the series circulated among Dutch artists and collectors, contributing to the dissemination of accurate harbor views in the mid‑1600s.
Context
In the Dutch Golden Age, Amsterdam’s waterways were central to trade and urban growth. Prints such as this served both documentary and instructional purposes, providing a record of engineering feats like the Overtoom portage and informing contemporary artists about the city’s maritime infrastructure.
Artist & collection
Artist
Reinier Nooms (c. 1623 – 1664), also known as Zeeman or Seeman (Dutch for "sailor"), was a Dutch maritime painter known for his highly detailed paintings and etchings of ships. From the 1650s, Nooms started producing…
