Dutch winter village – Barentie Willem Dietz, 1854

Village winter landscape with skaters, drawing in pen and brown ink by Barentie Willem Dietz (1793-1864). Signed in the bottom left corner “B.W. Dietz fec. 1854.” Size: 8 x 13.5 cm.

In the foreground on the left, we see several people on the ice. A man pushes a sled with two barrels, eagerly followed by a dog. Near the bridge, someone is skating. Another person waits for his companion to finish putting on his skates so they can go for a ride with the woman in the sleigh. In the background, a church tower and a windmill are visible.

The houses on the right are covered in snow, and two people are chatting at a front door. Bare trees stretch their branches above the buildings, smoke curls from the chimneys, adding to the cold, wintry atmosphere. A man in clogs, also with a dog, watches the people on the ice. Perhaps he is holding a loaf of bread.

In  19th-century Romanticism, it was common for artists to create (or copy) typically Dutch winter scenes, which had been popular since the early 17th century.

This scene conveys a sense of tranquility, offering a lively glimpse into Dutch village life. On just a few square centimeters, a detailed portrayal of a winter from the past is captured.

Price: SOLD