Artwork
The old Regulierspoort in Amsterdam during Winter
The old Regulierspoort in Amsterdam during Winter is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Abraham Beerstraaten. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1650, this oil on canvas portrays a winter scene in Amsterdam centered on the historic Regulierspoort, now known as the Munttoren. The composition captures a frozen cityscape under a muted sky, populated by skaters on the ice and small boats navigating the canal. The work is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
Subject & Meaning
The painting illustrates daily winter life in 17th‑century Amsterdam, juxtaposing the imposing tower of the Munttoren with recreational activities on the ice.
The painting illustrates daily winter life in 17th‑century Amsterdam, juxtaposing the imposing tower of the Munttoren with recreational activities on the ice. Figures glide on the frozen canal while a few vessels remain moored, suggesting a community adapting to seasonal conditions. The scene conveys both the architectural prominence of the gateway and the social vitality of the city during cold months.
Technique & Style
Beerstraffen employs a restrained palette of greys and blues to render the overcast sky and reflective ice. Careful modeling of light and shadow gives depth to the architectural forms and the bustling foreground. Fine brushwork delineates individual skaters and sailors, while broader strokes suggest atmospheric haze, characteristic of Dutch winter landscapes of the Golden Age.
History & Provenance
Abraham Beerstraaten, baptized in Amsterdam in 1643 and son of painter Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten, produced the work after traveling with his father through various Dutch locales in the early 1660s. The painting entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where it remains accessible to the public as part of the museum’s Dutch Golden Age collection.
Context
The depiction aligns with a broader Dutch fascination for winter genre scenes, reflecting both the climatic realities of the Little Ice Age and the cultural importance of communal ice activities. By focusing on a recognizable city landmark, the artist situates a familiar urban environment within the seasonal narrative, offering contemporary viewers a glimpse of Amsterdam’s 17th‑century urban life.
Artist & collection
Artist
Abraham Beerstraaten (1643 in Amsterdam – 1666), was a Dutch Golden Age painter of winter scenes.
