Winter Games on the Frozen River Ijssel

Hendrick Avercamp

National Gallery of Art

This painting depicts a busy scene on a frozen river or lake, filled with a crowd of people. The horizon is in the center, showing boats and low buildings in the distance. Closer to us, many people are engaged in different activities on the ice. Some ride in a horse-drawn sled, while others play a game with long sticks and small round balls. The people wear colorful clothing in shades of red, blue, yellow, green, and black. Some of the women wear elaborate gowns with ruffled collars, while the men wear colorful suits and wide-brimmed hats. Other people wear simpler jackets and trousers. A few dogs run on the ice among the crowds. Aside from the colorful clothing, the color palette is mostly shades of cream, light gray, and pale blue.