Figures à la mode no 11: Kolfspeler op het ijs

Romeyn de Hooghe created this print, "Figures à la mode no 11: Kolfspeler op het ijs," in the Netherlands, but we don't know exactly when. The image captures an intriguing blend of fashion and recreation, featuring a golf player on ice, adorned in stylish attire. The detailed rendering of clothing and equipment creates meaning, and the game suggests a prosperous society with leisure time. De Hooghe lived during the Dutch Golden Age, a period defined by economic growth, global trade, and cultural achievement. This era saw the rise of a wealthy merchant class with the means to patronize the arts. The print likely reflects this context, showcasing a fashionable figure engaged in a popular pastime. By consulting period sources such as fashion plates, game histories, and economic data, historians can gain a deeper understanding of the work’s cultural values and its place within the broader social structures of the time.