An Inn by a Frozen River
- Artist: Isack van Ostade
- Date: about 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 "An Inn by a Frozen River" painted in the Dutch Republic around the 1640s. Notice how the huge expanse of grey sky creates a sombre mood, but if you look closely, there are warmer colours and moments of relief. The sun isn't far away, indicated by that tinge of pink on one side of the snow-filled sky.
The artist has cleverly wove in details to make this picture more engaging. Take the winter flowering plants blooming in the thatch of the dilapidated inn, for example. Or the two men crossing the ice with a heavy sledge, their faces worn by the harsh conditions.
It's been suggested that this painting might be the work of Isack van Ostade, but when it was cleaned, it was discovered to be inferior to his usual style. The brushstrokes are rough and the faces little more than a couple of strokes, suggesting it could have been painted by a follower or student.
The Dutch Republic at this time used paintings as a means of entertainment – scenes like this one were meant to hold moments of interest that had to be teased out. And while this picture doesn't initially seem like one of them, take another look and see if you can pick out the details that add depth and meaning to what might otherwise be a bleak winter scene.
See it in person
An Inn by a Frozen River 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.
