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Pair of 18th century Dutch engravings of performances in progress at the famous Amsterdam Schouwburg (Theatre), from the audience’s perspective. Each scene is captioned in Dutch, apparently with dialogue from the plays.  A large series of such prints were issued, with the same format but illustrating different plays.

In De Legertenten, the audience watches the army tent scene from the last act of the popular tragedy Achilles (1719) by the Netherlandish playwright Balthasar Huydecoper (1695-1778).  Pieter Barbiers is credited on the print has having painted the set in 1774.  Barbiers was a decorative painter and engraver in Amsterdam, also known for his scene paintings for the theaters at Le Hague, Leiden, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.  

De Gemeene Buurt shows male and female actors in Dutch clothing of the era in a scene taking place in the courtyard of a Dutch town.  The stage is flanked by statuary and Corinthian columns, chandeliers hang overhead, and musicians sit in the orchestra pit.  The print is after either Pieter van Liender (1727-1779) or his brother Paul (1731-1797), both Dutch painters, designers and engravers.  The engraver, Jan Punt, was also a painter, designer and actor.  His engravings mostly consisted of book illustrations, theatrical scenes and portraits.

De Legertenten caption:  Met de Afbeelding van het Laatste Tooneel, uit het Treurspel Achilles.  Vergramde Achilles toef; wat wil uw drift bestaan?/ Was’t niet genoeg dat gy uw’halavriend om zaagt komen?/ De Veldheer zelf bide u in’t eind’zyn vriendschap aan:/ Laat dan Ulysses raad uw’fellen wrok betoomen;/ Dat de onderlinge twist u langer niet verdeel’;/ Want de onderdaan bezuurt der Vorsten staatskrakeel.

De Gemeene Buurt caption:  Gaa, Reindert! gaa met Fytje en Rykje vry om raad:/ Bewaar’t verliefde Brechje, eer ze u ontrlucht op straat:/ Tryn Jansz bespot uw zorg:Nooit zult ge uw kind beleezen./ Geen minnewond word door vermaaningen geneezen.

Reference:

Bénézit, E. Dictionnaire critique et documentaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs.  France: Librairie Gründ, 1966.  Vol. 1, p. 393 (Barbiers); Vol. 5, p. 574 (Liender).

Leferink, Hein.  “Balthasar Huydecoper.”  Het Magazin Van de Verlichting.  13 January 2004.  http://coo.let.rug.nl/magazijn/archief/personen/arch_pers_h.htm