Artwork
Enjoying the ice
Enjoying the ice is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Thomas Heeremans. It dates from 1689 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on a wooden panel support, measuring 61 cm in height and 83.
The painting is executed in oil on a wooden panel support, measuring 61 cm in height and 83.5 cm in width. The composition depicts a horse standing on ice, rendered with a restrained yet precise handling of paint that emphasizes smooth transitions in modeling and subtle atmospheric effects. Stylistically, the work aligns with the Dutch Golden Age tradition of animal painting, focusing on naturalistic detail and restrained coloration to convey the quiet drama of the scene.
History & Provenance
The oil painting titled Enjoying the ice was created by Thomas Heeremans in 1677. Executed on a panel support, the work measures 61 cm in height and 83.5 cm in width. Historical records indicate that the piece was once owned by Gijsbert de Clercq. The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
Legacy
Thomas Heeremans' 1677 oil painting Enjoying the ice, depicting a horse, has been part of the Rijksmuseum's collection since its acquisition by Gijsbert de Clercq. The work's presence in a major national collection has contributed to scholarly discussions of Dutch Golden Age animal painting, though specific later influences or receptions are not documented in the provided sources.
The painting's dimensions (61 cm × 83.5 cm) and medium align with contemporaries of the period, supporting its attribution within 17th-century Dutch art. Its inclusion in the Rijksmuseum's holdings underscores its significance in the institutional narrative of Dutch art, though no further legacy-related claims are substantiated by the cited materials.
Overview
Enjoying the ice, a 1689 oil painting by Thomas Heeremans, captures a lively winter scene on a frozen river, set against a backdrop of a quiet village and a beached ship.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays everyday life in a Dutch winter, with figures skating, socializing, and resting on the ice, conveying a sense of communal leisure amidst a serene, snowy landscape.
Context
As a Haarlem artist, Heeremans' work, including Enjoying the ice, was shaped by the region's artistic traditions and the popularity of winter landscapes among Dutch audiences in the late 17th century.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Thomas Heeremans (1641–1694) was a Dutch painter and art dealer. He is known for his landscapes of winter scenes, cityscapes, harbor scenes, beach views, river views and village scenes. He was influenced by Klaes…
