Skaters on the City Moat

The Dutch artists of the 17th century are viewed as the inventors of landscape painting. In contrast to their characteristically warm and dark tones, the color palette in the work by Joost Cornelisz. Droochsloot is considerably lighter, evoking the chill of a winter day. The winter landscape was a recurring theme in Dutch painting. Depictions of ice skaters were especially popular examples of this genre, as can also be seen in the painting by Klaes Molenaer. Despite the exuberant atmosphere of Droochsloot's painting, it also reminds the viewers of the consequences of winter and cold. Landscape painting of the time was intended not only to amuse, but to instruct.