Vinterlandskab med skøjteløb og slædekørsel på isen 1650

This winter landscape was made with pen on paper by Jan van Goyen, a Dutch Golden Age painter. The quick, light strokes capture a scene of leisure on a frozen waterway. Van Goyen's choice of pen and paper—simple, accessible materials—belies the skill required to render such a lively composition. You can almost feel the cold and hear the laughter. Note the windmills in the background. They were not just picturesque; they were crucial infrastructure. They were used to drain the land, enabling agriculture and trade. So, even in this scene of winter recreation, we see the Dutch harnessing their environment, a testament to their industriousness. The artist’s choice to use such a humble medium allows us to see the scene with immediacy. It emphasizes the connection between the people, their labor, and the landscape, blurring the lines between work and play, art and life.