Winter Landscape with Skaters and Fishermen 1647

Jan van Goyen made this small drawing, Winter Landscape with Skaters and Fishermen, with pen and brown ink, and brown wash. The quickness of the medium lent itself to the scene; a frozen river teeming with figures at work and play. The artist has deftly captured the reflections on the ice, and the bare trees in the distance, evoking the wintery atmosphere. Pen and wash are modest materials, but the artist's expertise elevates the work. Van Goyen was incredibly prolific, and someone like him was essential to the workings of the Dutch art market. He was able to produce landscapes, like this one, quickly and efficiently, meeting the growing demand of the rising middle class. This drawing shows how the techniques of craft can find their way into fine art, as well as how the processes of art making are tied to wider social and economic patterns.