Skating scene with numerous figures on the ice and an island fort

Antoni van Stralen 1594 - 1641

Summary

Antoni van Stralen specialised in winter scenes. His work shows a lively attention to detail and a delicate use of colour. This winter landscape looks across a broad frozen lake toward an island fort in the centre. Houses, churches and windmills are visible on the horizon. Half the panel is taken up by a beautiful sky of slanting, pink- and grey-tinged clouds, which appear to move across it. This may be a holiday, since there is little evidence of commerce. People stand chatting with their children by their sides, or skate in small groups; two men in the foreground discuss their game of colf, a stick and ball game played in the streets and other open areas in summer, and on the ice in winter; a small boy plays on a sledge, while other children in the background set off energetically across the ice with long poles, as a safety measure in case they encounter thin ice. Poignant and playful touches are added in the form of a small dog shivering on the ice and a leaping cat surely about to sprawl on landing.