Schaatsende man met drie eenden aan een stok 1695 - 1697

Pieter van den Berge created this print, “Schaatsende man met drie eenden aan een stok”, using etching and engraving techniques. The work offers a glimpse into 18th-century Dutch winter life, tinged with societal undertones. At its center, a man confidently strides on skates, a trio of ducks slung over his shoulder, a display of his success, perhaps in hunting or trade. Beside him, a woman seems to look up at him. The frozen landscape suggests a temporary suspension of normal life, where social roles are both emphasized and, perhaps, playfully questioned. Look at the confidence in his posture, the way he presents himself – it speaks volumes about the performance of masculinity and class during this era. The work provides insight into the negotiation of identity in a rapidly changing world, capturing a moment where the personal and the political intertwine on a frozen stage.