Winter scene with numerous figures on the ice

Arent Arentsz c.1585 - 1635

Summary

In the17th century winters in Holland were colder than they are now. The canals often froze over completely, tempting people out onto the ice to work and play. Arentsz depicts the frozen River IJ at Amsterdam from the south, perhaps near, or on, the Schreierstoren, with the village of Buiksloot to the left. Despite the cold, there is much activity on the ice, with all classes of people shown together at work and play: fishing, selling food and drink, and playing colf. As the largest mercantile centre in the Netherlands, Amsterdam always had the latest fabrics and fashions, and the scene provides plenty of detail about contemporary costume, including regional dress, such as the long, black, hooded cloaks, or huiken often worn by women. The distant gallows, a stark reminder of the value of maintaining social norms, might be the Volewijck on the north bank of the IJ. Paintings of the native landscape were much in demand in the Netherlands in the 17th century. Collectors admired the realistic portrayals of the flat, expansive plains, waterways and sand dunes, as well as the distinctive skylines of towns and cities. Dutch artists were inspired to paint in this way by earlier Flemish landscapists, who sketched nature from life, imaginatively embellishing these familiar scenes in their studios. Arentsz obtained the soubriquet Cabel from ‘De Cabel' (The Cable), his house on the Pinsengracht, which he had named after his childhood home in Amsterdam. His subjects were almost exclusively peasants, fishermen and hunters engaged in everyday activities on or near water.

Display Label

Winter scene with numerous figures on the ice about 1620-3 Arent Arentsz known as Cabel about 1585-1635 Oil on panel Arent Arentsz depicts the frozen River IJ in Amsterdam from the south, with the village of Buiksloot to the left. Despite the cold, there is much activity on the ice with all classes of people shown together. People are fishing, moving barrels, carrying baskets of birds, or simply skating. This ice scene provides lots of detail about contemporary costume, including regional dress. Women often wore long, black hooded cloaks, or huiken. Amsterdam, as the largest mercantile centre in the Netherlands, always had the latest fashions and fabrics. Assheton Bennett bequest 1979.440