Hendrick Avercamp (1585 – 1634), Enjoying the ice
Oil on canvas, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
Museum press release, September 2004
The changing of the seasons is one of the oldest themes in Western European art, with the winter undergoing nature’s most spectacular metamorphosis. Several works from the Rijksmuseum collection present an exceedingly varied and sublime picture of winter. From 21 December 2004 to 21 March 2005, the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol are putting on the Winter in Holland exhibition at the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol. In addition to this exposition of ten exquisite works of art, the Schiphol museum has a permanent collection of works of art from the Golden Age on loan from the Rijksmuseum.
The 17th century ice scenes by Hendrick Avercamp from the Rijksmuseum collection are considered to be among the most famous examples of winter landscapes. Undoubtedly, the Enjoying the Ice on the exhibition at the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol is the undisputed icon of its genre. The 19th century winter scene of Two Girls in the Snow by Isaac Israels, serves as the perfect finale for the winter landscape genre. From the intervening period, we encounter works by great masters such as Jacob van Ruisdael. One of the highlights of the exhibition is the Vermeer-like The Raampoortje in Amsterdam a typical Amsterdam scene by Wouter van Troostwijk, who met an early death.
Publication Winter in Holland
Coinciding with the exhibition, the Rijksmuseum and Waanders Publishers in Zwolle are to publish the book Winter in Holland, containing a selection of winter landscapes from the Rijksmuseum collection, selected and annotated by Ronald de Leeuw, Director of the Rijksmuseum. The paperback edition contains 208 pages and will be published in both Dutch and English.