Artwork
River View in Winter
River View in Winter is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Aert van der Neer. It dates from 1657 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a winter landscape characterized by a frozen river scene where figures engage in ice skating.
The work depicts a winter landscape characterized by a frozen river scene where figures engage in ice skating. The composition includes snow-covered ground, bare trees, a boat, and a wintry sky. As a genre painting within the landscape tradition, the piece focuses on the daily recreational activities and environmental setting of a Dutch winter, emphasizing the interaction between people and the frozen waterway.
Technique & Style
River View in Winter, executed in 1657 by Aert van der Neer, is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 64 centimeters in height and 79 centimeters in width. Stylistically, it belongs to the landscape and genre art traditions, specifically depicting a winter scene.
The composition features ice, snow, trees, a boat, and figures engaged in ice skating beneath a sky. The painting remains in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, having originated from the Adriaan van der Hoop collection.
History & Provenance
The painting was created by Aert van der Neer in 1657. It entered the collection of Adriaan van der Hoop in Amsterdam; later, ownership transferred to Albertus Brondgeest before becoming part of the Rijksmuseum's permanent collection through the van der Hoop bequest in 1854, where it is recorded with inventory number SK-C-1144. The work has remained in Amsterdam at the Rijksmuseum since its acquisition.
Overview
Aert van der Neer, a Dutch Golden Age artist, completed River View in Winter in 1657 using oil paint. This painting exemplifies his specialization in depicting cold weather scenes and nocturnal settings. The work presents a bustling frozen river populated by ice skaters and boats, all under a characteristic winter sky. It is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
Context
Aert van der Neer was active during the Dutch Golden Age, a period rich in landscape painting. While his contemporaries included prominent artists such as Aelbert Cuyp and Meindert Hobbema, van der Neer's career unfolded with less public recognition. Despite his significant contributions to the genre, particularly his distinctive winter and night scenes, he remained somewhat overlooked during his lifetime.
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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,…
