Iconic Winter Landscape by Avercamp to Return to the Netherlands for Good

Taco Dibbits, Director General of the Rijksmuseum: ‘Ice and winter fun have been inextricably associated with each other for centuries here in the Netherlands. Few things bring everyone in the country together like those two things. As soon as the canals, rivers and lakes freeze, we take to the ice en masse – young and old, rich and poor. This painting by Avercamp is among the loveliest of winter landscapes.’

Martine Gosselink, General Director of the Mauritshuis: ‘The image evokes memories of the Netherlands’ great love of icy winter days. It also invites us to reflect on mobility, sport, national identity and, of course, climate change. Harsh winters are becoming increasingly rare, so Avercamp’s masterpiece has even more significance nowadays. This is the first time that the Mauritshuis and Rijksmuseum have purchased an artwork together. We are proud that it is such a quintessentially Dutch scene.’

Colf Players on the Ice is regarded as a highlight of Avercamp’s oeuvre. Unlike in his earlier winter landscape teeming with human figures, the artist focuses here on a small group in the foreground. The low vantage point makes us feel that we too are on the ice, and part of the scene. The focus is on two men playing colf – one of the oldest ball games in the Low Countries, and a forerunner of golf – as fishers, passers-by and other spectators watch the game. The painting is therefore not only a fabulous wintry scene, it is also the earliest known depiction of colf.

The painting also presents a vivid image of daily life during the ‘Little Ice Age’, a period between circa 1575 and 1625 which saw bitterly cold winters. Avercamp depicts both the pleasure of the skaters, hikers and people sledging, and the harshness of winter. The clothes worn by the figures in the painting also present a colourful impression of fashions in the early to mid-17th century. The details and the evocative characters make this painting one of Avercamp’s most intimate and innovative compositions.

The many surviving preliminary studies for this painting tell a similar story. Drawings by Avercamp in Dresden show how carefully he developed the composition, making changes during the painting process to make the image more expressive. Specialists at the Mauritshuis and the Rijksmuseum expect materials analysis to teach us more about his process.