Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hendrick Avercamp (1585-1634)—
Winter Landscape
with Ice Skaters
The village stream has frozen over, and the people all come out to
play. (Even today, tiny Holland's speed-skating teams routinely
beat those from much larger nations.) In the center, a guy falls
flat on his face. A couple makes
out in the hay-tower silo. There's
a “bad moon on the rise” in the
broken-down outhouse at left,
and another nearby. We see the
scene from above (the horizon
line is high), making it seem as if
the fun goes on forever.
A song or a play is revealed
to the audience at the writer's pace. But in a painting, we set the
tempo, choosing where to look and how long to linger. Exercise
your right to loiter. Avercamp, who was deaf and mute, presents
a visual symphony of small scenes. Just skate among these Dutch
people—rich, poor, lovers hand-in-hand, kids, and moms—and
appreciate the silent beauty of this intimate look at old Holland.
• Enter Room 7.
Frans Hals (c. 1581-1666)—
The Merry Drinker
(1627)
You're greeted by a jovial man in a black hat, capturing the earthy,
exuberant spirit of the Golden Age. Notice the details—the happy
red face of the man offering us a glass of wine, the sparkle in his
eyes, the lacy collar, the decorative belt buckle, and so on.
Now move in closer. All these meticulous details are accom-
plished with a few quick, thick, and messy brushstrokes. The beard
is a tangle of brown worms, the belt buckle a yellow blur. His hand
is a study in smudges. Even the expressive face is done with a few
well-chosen patches of color. Unlike the still-life scenes, this can-
vas is meant to be viewed from a distance, where the colors and
brushstrokes blend together.
Frans Hals was the premier
G old e n A g e p or t r a it p a i nte r.
Merchants hired him the way we'd
hire a wedding photographer. With
a few quick strokes, Hals captured
not only the features, but also the
personalit y.
Rather than posing his subject,
making him stand for hours saying
“cheese,” Hals tried to catch him at
a candid moment. He often painted
common people, f ishermen, and
