IJs-Club. Hardrijderij op schaatsen door mannen. Gehouden te Dockum op den 7 Januarij 1864 1864

Willem Troost's "IJs-Club. Hardrijderij op schaatsen door mannen. Gehouden te Dockum op den 7 Januarij 1864", made in 1864, captures a moment of Dutch winter leisure. Amidst the frozen landscape of 19th-century Netherlands, this print offers a glimpse into the social fabric of the time, yet its emphasis on male skaters raises questions about gender roles and access to public spaces. While women are present as spectators, their exclusion from the race highlights the limitations placed upon them in the realm of sport and competition. The black and white rendering evokes a sense of nostalgia, inviting us to reflect on the ways in which leisure activities both reflect and reinforce societal norms.