Schaatsende mannen en vrouwen en slees 1841 - 1853

Johannes Tavenraat made this sketch of figures skating with pencil on paper. The image offers us a glimpse into Dutch leisure activities, capturing men and women enjoying the simple pleasure of ice skating. Made sometime in the 19th century, the image invokes a specific time and place, the Netherlands, where frozen canals and waterways have historically provided natural ice rinks. It is also important to recognize how the work is presented to us. As a sketch, this work may have been produced as a preparatory study for a more finished painting or print. It also could have simply been for personal interest. The Rijksmuseum itself, as a national institution, plays a role in shaping our understanding and appreciation of Dutch culture. Art historians delve into such contexts, examining how cultural practices, artistic intentions, and institutional frameworks intersect to give art its meaning. By looking at the history of Dutch social life we can better understand this work.