Artwork
Skating at Sloten, near Amsterdam
Skating at Sloten, near Amsterdam is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten. It dates from 1654 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Executed in oil on canvas in 1654, the painting measures approximately 92 cm high by 131 cm wide and is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The work portrays a winter genre scene set near the village of Sloten, showing a man and a woman skating on frozen ice while a church building rises in the background. Executed in oil on canvas in 1654, the painting measures approximately 92 cm high by 131 cm wide and is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a representative of Dutch genre painting, the image captures a leisurely outdoor activity typical of the 17th-century Low Countries, emphasizing everyday life and the seasonal landscape.
History & Provenance
Painted in 1654 by Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten, Skating at Sloten, near Amsterdam is an oil painting measuring 92.1 by 131.1 cm. It depicts a winter genre scene and is part of the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. No documented commission or earlier ownership chain is recorded in the available institutional sources, and no specific accession number or exhibition history is listed.
Overview
This oil painting, titled "Skating at Sloten, near Amsterdam," captures a lively winter scene on a frozen waterway. It depicts numerous figures engaged in ice skating and various recreational activities, set against a backdrop of local architecture. The artwork exemplifies a popular genre within 17th-century Dutch painting, showcasing everyday life and the distinctive seasonal conditions of the Low Countries.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, the artist meticulously renders the details of the scene, from the varied poses of the skaters to the architectural features of the distant buildings. The brushwork captures the textures of winter clothing and the historical character of the church, reflecting the Dutch Golden Age's emphasis on observational accuracy. The overall style balances narrative clarity with an evocative portrayal of the cold, crisp environment.
Context
This painting stands as a representative example of 17th-century Dutch art, a period renowned for its genre scenes and landscape depictions. Winter landscapes, particularly those featuring ice skating, were a favored subject, reflecting both the climate and the social customs of the Netherlands. Works by contemporaries such as Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten share a similar thematic and stylistic approach, illustrating the broader artistic trends of the era.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten or Johannes (Beerstrat or Bierstraten) (bapt. 1 March 1622 in Amsterdam – buried 1 July 1666) was a Dutch painter of marine art, particularly of events of the First Anglo-Dutch War and…
