Esplanaden ved Øster Port
1762 [-] 1808
![Esplanaden ved Øster Port by Elias Meyer, 1762 [-] 1808](https://www.thequadro.com/api/storage/artworks/thumb/l/elias-meyer/elias-meyer_esplanaden-ved-ster-port_c07568fe)
Step into a sunny afternoon in late 18th-century Copenhagen with this charming view of the Esplanade near the East Gate. Elias Meyer captures a delightful contrast where well-dressed citizens leisurely stroll and fish in the moat, seemingly ignoring the massive, stern military buildings looming in the background. The scene feels almost like a picnic, with couples chatting and a dog trotting along the path. It’s a precious snapshot of daily life before the city's old fortifications were torn down to make way for modern boulevards, showing how locals turned a defensive waterway into a popular weekend hangout spot.