Hendrick Avercamp’s “Ice Landscape,” painted in 1610, is a captivating Baroque-style oil painting that measures 115 x 67.5 cm. This piece is currently on display in Room 16 of the Mauritshuis Collection in The Hague, Netherlands. Avercamp, known as the ‘Mute from Kampen’ due to his deafness, was the first artist to specialize in the Dutch genre of winter scenes depicting people enjoying themselves on ice.
The painting vividly portrays a frozen canal in a peasant village under grey skies, bustling with life and activity. It features a diverse array of figures from different social strata, all meticulously dressed and engaged in various ice activities. In the foreground, a skater dons a plumed top hat, while couples skate hand in hand, and a game of kolf—a precursor to ice hockey—is underway. A humorous touch is added by a woman who has slipped on the ice, exposing her bare buttocks. However, Avercamp also highlights the perils of winter recreation, as depicted by a group of people who have fallen through the ice and are being rescued with a ladder.
The painting reflects the influence of the Flemish landscape tradition and the harsh winters of the Little Ice Age, which lasted from about 1550 to 1850. During this time, the Netherlands experienced extremely cold winters, with two-thirds of the winters between 1600 and 1700 ranging from ‘cold’ to ‘very severe.’ These conditions inspired Avercamp and other landscape painters to capture the dramatic effects of snow and ice on the light and colors of the landscape.
Avercamp’s work is signed on the lower left, on a tree, with a ligature of HA. The painting, with an inventory number of 785, is executed on a panel measuring 36 x 71 cm. Its provenance includes ownership by P. Opperdoes Alewijn and Jonkvrouw M.M. Snouck van Loosen before being purchased by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam in 1886. Since 1924, it has been on long-term loan from the Rijksmuseum.
For those interested in non-commercial use, high-resolution images of “Ice Landscape” can be downloaded from the Mauritshuis website for research, study, educational purposes, personal blogs, and social media, with the credit line “Mauritshuis, The Hague.” Commercial use inquiries should be directed to the marketing department at the museum.
In addition to appreciating the historical and artistic value of Avercamp’s work, visitors and fans can explore related souvenirs, such as shawls, trays, magnets, and cushions, available in the museum shop or online store.
