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'Winter Scene', 1671
by Klaes Molenaer
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It is a dark, cold winter’s day. A big sky, filling half the painting shows
dark clouds, beneath which people are getting on with everyday life. It is so cold
the river has frozen over, people are getting about on their skates.
The building at the side looks derelict and empty at first glance, but look closely
and see someone entering through the large barn door, also a wisp of smoke from
the chimney shows a fire must be burning inside.
There is a hoist at the top of the building, and sacks are being carried down from
the building to the wagon. What do they contain? What is the sign hanging from the
building? In the foreground people are working, loading sacks in the wagon for the
horse to pull. In contrast, in the rest of the painting people seem to be enjoying
themselves. Is this a metaphor for the slippery slope to ruin?
Lots of different methods of transport are shown – a boat, a sledge (made
from crates?), horse and cart, skates (but only men are skating, not women and children).
The painting shows movement, those on skates are leaning in to gain momentum.
In the distance, across the river, other buildings can be seen. Maybe one of them
is a church? In the foreground are willow trees, chopped close to produce new, springy
shoots which can be easily bent and used to make various items.
This size of painting would have been intended for a home – there would have
been no art galleries when it was painted. Who first bought it, and where did they
hang it?
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© Nottingham City Museums and Galleries. Photo © The National Gallery,
London.
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For lesson sequences written by ITE students, choose from the Subject Focus list:
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