A Winter Scene
- Artist: Isack van Ostade
- Date: 1640s
- Medium: oil on wood
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the "A Winter Scene" by Isack van Ostade, painted in the 1640s. The little village depicted here seems to be a hard place to live. Although there's no snow, the grey clouds threaten and there's a feeling of bone-chilling cold.
The old cottage on top of the bank is ramshackle and touched with frost, its roof hardly robust enough to keep out the weather. But despite this bleak setting, the overall impression of the painting is far from depressing. It's as if van Ostade is celebrating the endurance of the Dutch people, but also faith in the return of spring.
The scene itself shows a man pushing a sledge with a woman and a toddler inside, while another child punts himself along with two sticks. Closer to us, a lad watches with concern as an old man struggles into his skates. The animals look thin and cold, but there's a hint of blue behind the grey clouds.
The painting is full of small touches that suggest life and resilience, like the white horse moving upwards with its head high, or the icy river glistening in the light. Van Ostade's use of oil on wood gives the scene a sense of depth and texture that really draws you in.
Overall, this is a powerful portrayal of everyday life during a time of great hardship and poverty in Europe. It's a testament to the endurance of the Dutch people and their faith in better days to come.
See it in person
A Winter Scene hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
