Winterlandschap met bevroren rivier by Carel Christiaan Antony Last

Winterlandschap met bevroren rivier

1841 - 1853

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Artwork details

Medium
print, etching
Dimensions
height 270 mm, width 360 mm
Location
Rijksmuseum
Copyright
Rijks Museum: Open Domain

Tags

#print#etching#landscape#romanticism#monochrome

About this artwork

Carel Christiaan Antony Last created this Winter Landscape with a Frozen River, using lithography. This piece offers a glimpse into 19th-century Dutch society. During this time, the Netherlands was experiencing a period of relative peace and economic growth, which allowed for a flourishing of art and culture. The frozen landscape is dotted with figures skating, a popular pastime that transcended class. However, the composition also hints at social stratification, note the imposing building contrasting with the small figures on the ice, suggesting a society where wealth and power were concentrated in the hands of a few. Last, like many artists of his time, walked a tightrope between celebrating national identity and subtly critiquing social inequalities. Through his art, we are invited to reflect on the ever-present tension between individual joy and collective experience.

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