Artwork
The City Wall of Haarlem in the Winter
The City Wall of Haarlem in the Winter is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem. It dates from 1647 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work depicts a snow‑covered segment of Haarlem’s city wall, framing the Gasthuistoren towers and the Kleine Houtpoort gate.
About this work
Overview
The work depicts a snow‑covered segment of Haarlem’s city wall, framing the Gasthuistoren towers and the Kleine Houtpoort gate. In the foreground, laborers are seen loading beer barrels onto a sled, while two figures engage in the winter sport of kolf. Pigeon coops lean against the wall, adding a domestic touch to the bustling scene.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures everyday winter activity in 17th‑century Haarlem, juxtaposing commercial labor with leisure. The presence of kolf players highlights a popular recreational pastime, while the beer barrels reference the city’s brewing trade. The pigeon coops suggest the integration of urban and rural life within the city’s fortified perimeter.
Technique & Style
Rendered with precise brushwork, the painting allows the viewer to discern individual bricks in the wall, indicating a high level of observational detail. The muted palette of whites and grays conveys the cold atmosphere, while the crisp delineation of figures and architecture reflects a realistic approach typical of Dutch winter genre scenes.
History & Provenance
The canvas was created as a pendant to a companion winter view, forming a paired display reminiscent of double‑window panels. It is catalogued as SK‑A‑28 in the museum’s collection. The artist remains unidentified, though the work’s execution suggests a skilled hand familiar with Haarlem’s urban landscape.
Context
Winter cityscapes were a common motif in Dutch art, serving both documentary and aesthetic purposes. This painting contributes to that tradition by recording specific architectural landmarks of Haarlem, offering insight into the city’s fortified walls and daily life during the colder months.
Legacy
As part of a paired set, the work illustrates the practice of creating complementary winter scenes for decorative interiors. Its detailed representation of Haarlem’s fortifications provides valuable visual documentation for historians studying the city’s 17th‑century urban environment.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem (1 October 1620 – 18 February 1683) was a highly esteemed and prolific Dutch Golden Age painter of pastoral landscapes, populated with mythological or biblical figures, but also of a number of allegories and…
