The winters of yesteryear
, by Melanie Dumay, 1 min reading time
Winter landscapes that emerged in the early 17th century: a development in painting towards reality and details
By Melanie Dumay
The golden age: prosperity, prosperity, growth, an eye for culture! A wonderful century!
Until then, painters ventured onto canvas based on what was going on in their minds: memories and fantasy were the guiding principles for the creation of the paintings. That changed at the beginning of the 17th century: Hendrick Avercamp, for example, was a major influencer in this: he painted a winter landscape with ice skating. He and his colleagues who followed painted from their observations, spontaneity, at the moment itself and on the spot itself. In the open air, or 'en plein air'. First as a sketch and later the paintings were further elaborated and finished in the studio.
Sharp eye
There was a keen eye for realistic representations of what was happening at that moment and a keen eye for details: contrasts, lines, perspective. The horizon was kept low: clouds were much better expressed that way. Or even stronger: elements such as trees, mills or towers were painted from below and in this way a grand whole was created.
Entertainment and fun
The winter landscapes became popular: showing the fun on the ice, the cookie and zopietent, the skating person, zoomed in on the smallest details. The sled on the ice, the ice blocks, the almost palpable cracking ice. Painting got a new impetus; or THE WINTERS OF YESTERDAY.
Click here for the Winter Landscapes on Collectioneurs.nl