Who painted Winter Scene near The Hague?

Winter Scene near The Hague was painted by Jan van Goyen in 1645-01-01.

Where can I see Winter Scene near The Hague?

Winter Scene near The Hague is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Winter Scene near The Hague?

Winter Scene near The Hague is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Winter Scene near The Hague by Jan van Goyen (1645)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Winter Scene near The Hague depicts a frozen canal with figures skating and playing music, alongside a vendor selling snacks known as Koek-en-zopie.

Winter Scene near The Hague depicts a frozen canal with figures skating and playing music, alongside a vendor selling snacks known as Koek-en-zopie. This activity was a characteristic winter pastime in the Netherlands, reflecting both leisure and communal customs of the 17th century. The painting’s subject captures everyday winter life in the Dutch countryside, emphasizing simplicity and seasonal rhythm rather than narrative or moral allegory.

The work is attributed to Jan van Goyen, a Dutch landscape painter active during the Golden Age. It is housed in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, where it has been part of exhibitions showcasing Dutch masters. Executed in oil on panel in 1645, the piece measures 52 cm in height by 70 cm in width.

Its genre aligns with the landscape tradition, focusing on naturalistic depictions of rural scenes with symbolic resonance tied to seasonal change and communal winter activities.

Technique & Style

Winter Scene near The Hague is an oil painting executed on wooden panel in 1645. The work depicts winter activities including ice skating and a vendor selling koek-en-zopie, characteristic of Dutch winter genre scenes. Its formal qualities reflect the tonal landscape tradition with restrained palette and emphasis on atmospheric effects.

The painting measures 52 cm in height and 70 cm in width, consistent with other works by van Goyen from this period.

The composition demonstrates careful handling of light on snow and ice, with subtle gradations of tone creating depth. As a work in the Hermitage Museum's collection, it has been featured in exhibitions of Dutch masters, underscoring its significance within 17th-century Dutch painting.

History & Provenance

Winter Scene near The Hague is an oil painting on panel created by Jan van Goyen in 1645. The work entered the collection of the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, where it remains on display as part of the Dutch masters exhibition. Its dimensions measure 52 cm in height and 70 cm in width.

The Hermitage Museum acquired the painting as part of its Dutch masters collection, and it has been featured in exhibitions focused on Dutch masters from the Hermitage.

Winter Scene near The Hague is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum. According to the Wikidata record for the work, it has been exhibited in the show "Dutch masters from the Hermitage." No accession number is provided in the available sources.

The painting is executed in oil on panel and measures 52 by 70 cm. It dates to 1645 and depicts a winter landscape featuring a child, ice skaters, and a Koek-en-zopie stall.

Overview

Jan van Goyen’s 1645 oil painting, Winter Scene near The Hague, presents a calm, frozen landscape typical of Dutch Golden‑Age genre scenes. A pale sky stretches over a low‑lying field where figures gather around a modest fire, glide on ice, and stroll along the snow‑covered ground, conveying a quiet, everyday winter moment.