IJsvermaak, 1714 1714

This print, "IJsvermaak", was made in 1714 by an anonymous artist. It depicts a scene of leisure and recreation on a frozen waterway in the Netherlands. Images like this reflect the social life of the Dutch Republic, where a thriving merchant class fueled a culture of art and spectacle. The frozen canals became stages for displays of wealth and social status. We can see how the artist emphasizes the pageantry of the event with an attention to detail in the rendering of clothing, sledges, and horse-drawn carriages. The work documents the organization of social life and the strict hierarchy of the time. Even leisure was shaped by social class and gender. These prints provide valuable information for social historians. By combining careful looking with archival research, we can begin to unpack the complex relationships between art and society in the Dutch Republic.