1570
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Winter is a 1570 ink by Pieter van der Heyden, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This crowded scene shows winter in a busy town. A man in a fur hat stands near a well, talking to others bundled in winter clothes. Around him, people play, fight, and drink by a frozen fountain. In the background, a castle and houses huddle under bare trees. Tiny figures fill every corner—some dance, others shovel snow or argue. The artist packed in so much detail that no space feels empty. The Latin text at the bottom hints at deeper meaning, but the chaos of daily life is the real focus. Next, learn about engraving to see how artists like this carved intricate scenes into metal.
Pieter van der Heyden (c. 1530 - after March 1572) was a Flemish printmaker who is known for his reproductive engravings after works by leading Flemish painters and designers of the 16th century.
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