Winter Landscape with Two Women and a Sledge and Other Figures on the Ice, a Gallows in the Distance c. 1620 - 1625

Curator: Before us is Hendrick Avercamp’s “Winter Landscape with Two Women and a Sledge and Other Figures on the Ice, a Gallows in the Distance,” a watercolor and coloured pencil drawing made around 1620-1625. It offers a glimpse into everyday life in the Dutch Golden Age. Editor: My immediate feeling is one of chilly, hard-won enjoyment. The muted palette conveys the cold, but there’s an energy in the figures skating and sledding. The gallows though…it strikes a dissonant note. Curator: Absolutely, the gallows in the background offers a chilling counterpoint to the otherwise lively scene. Avercamp often included such elements, reminding us of the harsh realities alongside the pleasures of daily life. Think about the socio-political implications for this community and their values. What were they being taught about life and justice through this symbol in the distance? Editor: And Avercamp has placed it very deliberately in the composition, centrally located but not immediately obvious, allowing the viewer's eye to be drawn to it slowly. Gallows were often placed prominently in the landscape, functioning as symbols of authority and warnings, of course. Perhaps they were so commonplace they were simply part of the scenery. Curator: That's insightful. Avercamp was known for capturing the subtleties of human behaviour in his crowded scenes. Considering gender and labour, for instance, notice the two women pulling a heavy sled—their efforts are juxtaposed with figures seemingly at leisure. What does this reveal about the division of labour? Editor: The very specific details of clothing, and the presence of recognizable items like the sleds and ice skates also speak to collective memories and experiences, allowing viewers then and now to access a particular moment in time. Winter as a period where work and pleasure intersected. Curator: Furthermore, observe the recurring motif of figures bundled in layers – protective garb that carries meaning, speaking volumes about resilience, and adaptation to the elements. The symbol of human triumph over adversity. Editor: The scene seems simultaneously joyful and precarious. The distant gallows is balanced with a sense of human connection, captured by repeated visual motif of a figure helping to move another across the ice. I’m struck by this potent duality. Curator: Yes, a poignant juxtaposition, forcing a deeper consideration of both the social norms and human cost reflected in this seemingly simple genre scene. Editor: The landscape comes to life in that friction between symbolism and reality. Avercamp is revealing how even times of leisure exist within a larger complex of everyday lives.