Artwork
River view in the winter
River view in the winter is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Aert van der Neer. It dates from 1655 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition emphasizes the expansive, cold setting rather than narrative allegory, grounding its meaning in the realistic observation of seasonal life.
Aert van der Neer's work depicts a winter landscape centered on a frozen river, capturing the atmospheric conditions of snow and a distinct sky. The scene is populated by figures engaged in ice skating, illustrating a specific moment of leisure on the ice. As a piece of genre art within the landscape tradition, the painting represents the Dutch winter environment, focusing on the interaction between people and the frozen natural world.
The composition emphasizes the expansive, cold setting rather than narrative allegory, grounding its meaning in the realistic observation of seasonal life.
Technique & Style
River view in the winter is executed in oil paint. According to the catalogue record, the work is classified as a painting, while the Wikidata entry specifies that the medium is oil paint on panel, indicating a wooden support rather than canvas. The panel measures 50.5 cm in height by 66 cm in width, a modest horizontal format suited to the expansive winter landscape genre that Aert van der Neer was known for.
Stylistically, the work belongs to the tradition of Dutch winter landscape painting, depicting ice, snow, a sky, and figures ice skating, consistent with the artist's specialization in atmospheric frozen river scenes.
No information regarding the painting's current condition, surface handling, or specific stylistic qualities beyond its genre classification is documented in the available sources.
History & Provenance
The oil painting titled River view in the winter was created by the Dutch artist Aert van der Neer. While the work is generally dated to the mid-17th century, specific records place its inception between 1655 and 1660. The piece is executed in oil paint on a panel support and depicts a winter landscape featuring ice skating and snow.
Currently, the artwork is held within the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The painting measures 50.5 cm in height and 66 cm in width. No specific details regarding the original commission or the intermediate ownership chain prior to its arrival at the museum are provided in the available records.
The painting River view in the winter by Aert van der Neer is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. While the work is dated to approximately 1655 or within the period spanning 1655 to 1660, the provided records do not specify a unique inventory or accession number for the piece. Furthermore, although the artwork is identified as part of the museum's holdings and depicts winter scenes including ice skating, no specific exhibition history or list of past showings is detailed in the available documentation.
Overview
Aert van der Neer, a Dutch Golden Age painter, completed River view in the winter in 1655 using oil paint. This work exemplifies his characteristic focus on atmospheric winter landscapes. The composition presents a frozen river scene, populated by figures engaged in various activities on the ice, set against a cool, cloudy sky. It reflects the artist's consistent exploration of such seasonal subjects, often featuring waterways under specific lighting conditions.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Aert van der Neer, or Aernout or Artus (c. 1603 – 9 November 1677), was a landscape painter of the Dutch Golden Age, who specialized in small night scenes lit only by moonlight and fires, and snowy winter landscapes,…
