There are some landscape paintings which open our world up with a beautiful expansive vista - and others which seem to demand us in closer, to marvel at all the tiny details.
That's great to know, David. You're lucky to have seen them in the Rijkmuseum - and even better that this has given you the inspiration to write your own piece too.
I am very much enjoying Art Every Day. The Avercamp piece reminded me also of a painting called The Archer by a Flemish artist named Tenier. He too painted a man urinating---against a building rather than a tree. This must have been a trope these Northern European painters enjoyed....adolescent male humor, perhaps? Here is the link to the image from the museum where I volunteer in Indianapolis. https://collections.discovernewfields.org/art/artwork/56821
That's so cool, Mary. Thanks for sharing this piece by Tenier too - I can definitely see what you mean about the similarity. And yes, I suppose there were some painterly jokes which were in fashion at the time, as these are certianly not the only paintings I can think of with these similar characters too.
I’m an Averkamp fan - this one is my favourite, but the Rijksmuseum has several - so does the UK Royal Collection - plus two in the National Gallery. He was mute, and probably couldn’t hear, either. But he could see. And paint. Thanks for another gem!
George, this is my art class. As I was scrolling through this painting I was wondering if someday there’s going to be a quiz,and sure enough I scroll down and there it is! I am looking forward to it. The detail in this paining is truly magnificent that’s probably a wrong way to describe tiny things. Is there anyway that you can give the dimensions of some of these paintings? I would like to know how to approach them a little bit more knowledgeably.
Thanks Dave - I'm really glad to know that, and awesome that you're looking forward to the quiz too. It's my first time writing a full quiz collection, so I hope it will be good fun!
Also, I will certainly keep that in mind about adding dimensions on more works in the future. I must admit, It's something I usually only add if the actual size of the piece is particularly remarkable (i.e overly large, or small etc).
And with my own limits in time and space here (plus with working always as a solo writer) it's sadly not always possible for me to include every detail all at once, especially as I've also sometimes had people asking me to add in everything from paint medium to canvas/panel material etc too alongside physical dimensions and much more.
But of course, I am always still learning and trying to get the right balance here in terms of fitting enough relevant information into each article. So I appreciate the suggestion.
What a great painting by Avercamp. At first glance, I actually thought it was a Pieter Brueghel. It looks so much like Brueghel's style. There is certainly a lot to unpack in Avercamp's painting. I love it. Thanks, George.
Great observation, Nancy. The similarities with Brueghel are definitely there! And I'm sure Avercamp would have been delighted to be mentioned in the same league at such a great painter.
Love this painting almost as much as Breughel's Hunters. Reminds us too of some of the Thames Frost Fair paintings (the last one was in 1814), held when the river froze over
My kids and I are enjoying this painting immensely! Thank you for introducing it to us and for all of your wonderful posts. We found a skater splayed out on his stomach, his hat having flown from his head. We chuckled at the person with the wide open mouth in the water next to the boat and those nearby rushing in to help. We found a ghostly dog who nearly blends in with the ice. There is so much to here to notice! What a delight!
That's so great to know you are enjoying this with your kids! This made me want to return to the picture again to find that person in the water too! Thank you for sharing.
I was going to leave a comment on how much I enjoy his pallet in this painting. And as I was getting ready to make this note to you I read through the other comments. And I realize that you have created a community of art lovers who genuinely enjoy immersing in the works you choose. I’m warmed by that. Thank you as always.
This work reads like a 17th-century "Where’s Waldo?": hundreds of tiny figures, each caught in a mini-scene, and little visual jokes everywhere. The composition here is basically an invitation to get lost.
I love how you describe and show the painting to us. I also want to thank you for reminding me to pay more attention to details, because you can find beauty in every single thing.
Great article as usual George. There’s a whole world of humanity on that ice and in some places it is very thin (allegorically speaking). Peace and all good to our fellow skaters🙏
Thanks. I enjoyed looking at Avercamp’s skating scenes earlier this month at the Rijksmuseum. You have inspired me to try a write up as well.
That's great to know, David. You're lucky to have seen them in the Rijkmuseum - and even better that this has given you the inspiration to write your own piece too.
I am very much enjoying Art Every Day. The Avercamp piece reminded me also of a painting called The Archer by a Flemish artist named Tenier. He too painted a man urinating---against a building rather than a tree. This must have been a trope these Northern European painters enjoyed....adolescent male humor, perhaps? Here is the link to the image from the museum where I volunteer in Indianapolis. https://collections.discovernewfields.org/art/artwork/56821
Of course, I truly enjoyed the wonderful details in the Avercamp painting, far more of them than this silly detail, but I had to remark on it.
That's so cool, Mary. Thanks for sharing this piece by Tenier too - I can definitely see what you mean about the similarity. And yes, I suppose there were some painterly jokes which were in fashion at the time, as these are certianly not the only paintings I can think of with these similar characters too.
I fell in love with - and wrote about - this painting when I was in Amsterdam a few months ago. It's just wonderful!
Wow so did I. Just was there this month.
It's featured in my October 27th post - but in a much less scholarly manner than Art Every Day. :)
I’m an Averkamp fan - this one is my favourite, but the Rijksmuseum has several - so does the UK Royal Collection - plus two in the National Gallery. He was mute, and probably couldn’t hear, either. But he could see. And paint. Thanks for another gem!
Great knowledge, Mike. Thanks for sharing!
George, this is my art class. As I was scrolling through this painting I was wondering if someday there’s going to be a quiz,and sure enough I scroll down and there it is! I am looking forward to it. The detail in this paining is truly magnificent that’s probably a wrong way to describe tiny things. Is there anyway that you can give the dimensions of some of these paintings? I would like to know how to approach them a little bit more knowledgeably.
Thanks Dave - I'm really glad to know that, and awesome that you're looking forward to the quiz too. It's my first time writing a full quiz collection, so I hope it will be good fun!
Also, I will certainly keep that in mind about adding dimensions on more works in the future. I must admit, It's something I usually only add if the actual size of the piece is particularly remarkable (i.e overly large, or small etc).
And with my own limits in time and space here (plus with working always as a solo writer) it's sadly not always possible for me to include every detail all at once, especially as I've also sometimes had people asking me to add in everything from paint medium to canvas/panel material etc too alongside physical dimensions and much more.
But of course, I am always still learning and trying to get the right balance here in terms of fitting enough relevant information into each article. So I appreciate the suggestion.
What a great painting by Avercamp. At first glance, I actually thought it was a Pieter Brueghel. It looks so much like Brueghel's style. There is certainly a lot to unpack in Avercamp's painting. I love it. Thanks, George.
Great observation, Nancy. The similarities with Brueghel are definitely there! And I'm sure Avercamp would have been delighted to be mentioned in the same league at such a great painter.
Love this painting almost as much as Breughel's Hunters. Reminds us too of some of the Thames Frost Fair paintings (the last one was in 1814), held when the river froze over
That’s such a great little connection with the Thames Frost Fair Paintings! Thank you for reminding me of them.
My kids and I are enjoying this painting immensely! Thank you for introducing it to us and for all of your wonderful posts. We found a skater splayed out on his stomach, his hat having flown from his head. We chuckled at the person with the wide open mouth in the water next to the boat and those nearby rushing in to help. We found a ghostly dog who nearly blends in with the ice. There is so much to here to notice! What a delight!
That's so great to know you are enjoying this with your kids! This made me want to return to the picture again to find that person in the water too! Thank you for sharing.
I love this painting - and that sky is wondrous!
I was going to leave a comment on how much I enjoy his pallet in this painting. And as I was getting ready to make this note to you I read through the other comments. And I realize that you have created a community of art lovers who genuinely enjoy immersing in the works you choose. I’m warmed by that. Thank you as always.
This work reads like a 17th-century "Where’s Waldo?": hundreds of tiny figures, each caught in a mini-scene, and little visual jokes everywhere. The composition here is basically an invitation to get lost.
I love how you describe and show the painting to us. I also want to thank you for reminding me to pay more attention to details, because you can find beauty in every single thing.
Can't help but wonder if there were really that many people out skating and urinating back in 1606, but I love this painting and its details.
Great article as usual George. There’s a whole world of humanity on that ice and in some places it is very thin (allegorically speaking). Peace and all good to our fellow skaters🙏
It looks as if a structure is being hoisted. Do I see that correctly. I looking at the ladder like structure in the middle distance.
Can anyone tell me what the wide ladder like structure is in the middle of the painting?