IJsvermaak op het Buiten Spaarne bij Haarlem bij de Herberg 1760

Vincent Jansz. van der Vinne created this drawing, IJsvermaak op het Buiten Spaarne bij Haarlem bij de Herberg, using pen in gray ink and brush in gray wash. We see a lively scene of people enjoying a frozen waterway in the Netherlands, presumably near Haarlem. The frozen canals offered unique opportunities for commerce and recreation in Dutch society. Winter scenes such as this one were popular among collectors of art in the Netherlands during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Beyond the immediate visual appeal, the art historian asks: what was the impact of institutions such as academies on Dutch art production? The academy helped to create professional artists with social status. Artists were no longer seen as mere craftsmen and artisans but were elevated into the ranks of the intellectual elite. More research into the social and institutional context of the Haarlem art world of Van der Vinne's time could tell us more about his ambitions as an artist.