MALE NARRATOR:
Before the 17th century, virtually all subjects for paintings—with the exception of portraiture—were either religious or historical. Landscape was considered nothing more than the background to a biblical, classical, or mythological scene. But in the Netherlands of the 1600s, the spirit of direct observation joined with a patriotic delight in hard-won independence from Catholic Spain; and paintings of the Dutch countryside became enormously popular.
In this painting by Aert van der Neer, villagers are playing a game of “kolf,” a form of ice hockey related to the Scottish game of golf. Its objective was to reach a given destination with a minimum number of strokes. Kolf parties were a popular way for young people to meet and spend time together, away from the watchful eyes of church elders. During the long winter, when boats could not travel on the frozen rivers and canals, ice-skating was an important means of transportation.
A pale, wintery light bathes the scene in diaphanous pinks, greys and blues, contrasting beautifully with the dark, earthy tones of the frigid landscape. Enterprising Dutch artists often improved upon what they saw—creating hills, expanding horizons, even moving buildings from one spot to another in their dedication to heralding the beauties of their low-lying country.
Winter Scene with Figures Playing Kolf
1655-1660
Aert van der Neer (Dutch, 1603-1677)
On View
Aert van der Neer, a Dutch painter who worked primarily in Amsterdam, specialized in winter scenes and moonlit landscapes. Typical of his mature paintings, this composition is organized around a central body of water, which is bordered on the left by the thatched houses of a village and on the right by a community of cottages. The figures populating the scene endure the harsh weather conditions by participating in the pleasures of seasonal entertainment. Here, several skaters glide across the frozen river while two men enjoy a hearty game of kolf, a popular antecedent of modern golf played on the ice during the winter months.
Despite the lively activity he depicts, the artist is mainly interested in conveying the winter season’s dramatic light and color effects. As such, the tinted light of the setting sun, as it is refracted by the clouds and moist atmosphere and reflects on the neutral landscape, provides the true subject of this enchanting painting.
Details
- Artist Name: Aert van der Neer (Dutch, 1603-1677)
- Title: Winter Scene with Figures Playing Kolf
- Date: 1655-1660
- Medium: Oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 22-1/4 x 30-1/2 in. (56.5 x 77.5 cm)
- Credit Line: The Norton Simon Foundation
- Accession Number: F.1972.35.P
- Copyright: © The Norton Simon Foundation
Object Information
Charles William Mills, 2nd Baron Hillingdon (1865-1919), by descent to;
Arthur Robert Mills, 3rd Baron Hillingdon (1891-1952), Camelford House, Park Lane, Middlesex, by 1891, by descent to;
Charles Hedworth Mills, 4th Baron Hillingdon (1922- ), (Christies, 7 July 1972, lot 18, to);
[Edward Speelman, A.G., Zug, Switzerland, to];
The Norton Simon Foundation.
Arthur Robert Mills, 3rd Baron Hillingdon (1891-1952), Camelford House, Park Lane, Middlesex, by 1891, by descent to;
Charles Hedworth Mills, 4th Baron Hillingdon (1922- ), (Christies, 7 July 1972, lot 18, to);
[Edward Speelman, A.G., Zug, Switzerland, to];
The Norton Simon Foundation.
[on loan]
- New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1972-08-30 to 1973-12-19
[on loan]
- Princeton University Art Museum, 1974-05-02 to 1974-07-17
- Norton Simon Museum, Selected Paintings at the Norton Simon Museum, 1980, p. 60
- Bachmann, Fredo, Aert van der Neer; 1603/4-1677, 1982, pp. 22-23
- Sutton, Peter C., A Guide to Dutch Art in America, 1986, p. 218
- Masterpieces from the Norton Simon Museum, 1989, p. 66
- Schulz, Wolfgang, Aert van der Neer, 2002, ill. 22, no. 45 pp. 85, 138
- Thomson, Duncan, The Skating Minister: The Story Behind the Painting, 2004, pp. 16-17
- Campbell, Sara, Collector Without Walls: Norton Simon and His Hunt for the Best, 2010, cat. 843 p. 344
- Anthony Speelman, A Tale of Two Monkeys – Adventures in the Art World, 2022, fig. 46 pp. 126-131, p. 127 (ill.)
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