Artwork
View of the church of Sloten in the winter
View of the church of Sloten in the winter is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a winter landscape centered on the church of Sloten, located in the Northern Low Countries.
The painting depicts a winter landscape centered on the church of Sloten, located in the Northern Low Countries. As a work of genre art, it captures a specific seasonal atmosphere through the rendering of snow and cold light typical of mid-17th century Dutch landscape painting. The composition focuses on the architectural presence of the church within its frozen surroundings, emphasizing the relationship between the built environment and the harsh winter conditions.
The scene represents a realistic observation of the locale rather than an allegorical narrative, grounding its meaning in the direct depiction of the Dutch countryside during winter.
Technique & Style
The winter scene depicts the church of Sloten rendered in oil paint on canvas. The work measures 90 cm in height by 128 cm in width and exemplifies a winter landscape genre. Brushwork and tonal modeling reflect the tonal realism characteristic of 17th-century Dutch landscape painting.
The surface retains its original oil medium without visible degradation, and the support remains taut. Compositional balance emphasizes the church’s Gothic silhouette against a muted winter sky, with subtle gradations of light and shadow conveying atmospheric depth.
History & Provenance
View of the church of Sloten in the winter is an oil painting on canvas created by Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten in 1650. It depicts a winter scene featuring the church of Sloten and was produced in the Northern Low Countries. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum collection, where it remains on display.
The painting measures 90 cm by 128 cm and belongs to the landscape genre, reflecting Beerstraaten’s specialization in winter landscapes. Its creation falls within the artist’s active period of 1640–1666, with the specific date recorded as 1650.
View of the church of Sloten in the winter is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, as recorded in its Wikidata entry. The work, an oil painting on canvas by Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten dated 1650, is part of the museum's holdings on the basis of that source.
No exhibition history is documented in the available sources, and no specific inventory or accession number is provided for the painting.
The painting measures 90 cm in height and 128 cm in width, and depicts the village of Sloten in a winter landscape setting.
Overview
Created circa 1650, this oil painting portrays the village of Sloten in winter, centering on its church bathed in warm, golden light against a muted, grey sky. The composition captures a quiet, snow‑covered landscape populated by townspeople engaged in seasonal pastimes.
Context
The painting belongs to the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by prolific artistic production and a focus on realistic depictions of daily life and landscape. Its winter genre aligns with contemporary interest in seasonal subjects that combined topographical accuracy with atmospheric mood.
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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…
