Artwork
Winter Landscape with Skater
Winter Landscape with Skater is a drawing by the Baroque artist Jan van Kessel. It dates from 1662 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Winter Landscape with Skater is a drawing by Jan van Kessel, a Dutch landscape painter, depicting a serene rural scene on a frozen canal.
Subject & Meaning
The scene features a skater under a stone bridge, weathered sheds, and a village church in the distance, capturing everyday life in a quiet Dutch winter landscape.
Technique & Style
Van Kessel used a combination of black chalk and grey ink wash to create a shimmering effect on the trees, giving them a soft appearance.
Context
This type of rural landscape scene was a staple of the Dutch landscape school in the 17th century, focusing on simple, realistic depictions of everyday Dutch life.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan van Kessel (1641 or 1648 – 1680) was a Dutch Golden Age draftsman and landscape painter who made many cityscapes of Amsterdam. His work is often confused with the works of contemporary painters with the same name.
![View of Houtewael near the Sint Anthoniespoort [recto], by Rembrandt](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/rembrandt--view-of-houtewael-near-the-sint-anthoniespoort-recto--2919925de9060e70-w320.webp)
