Hendrick Avercamp was the leading painter of winter scenes in Holland in the early 17th century. This large and beautiful example features people of all ages enjoying skating, fishing, kolf (an early version of golf), refreshments, and conversation on the ice. The popularity of paintings of ice scenes coincided with a cold spell in Northern Europe, known as Little Ice Age, which lasted from the 1560s to the 1720s.

Oil on panel.

Gift of Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo, in support of the Center for Netherlandish Art.

2023.486