Het vrijmaken van een pad door het ijs naar de zee, 1597 1598

This anonymous woodcut, titled "Het vrijmaken van een pad door het ijs naar de zee" (Clearing a path through the ice to the sea), depicts a scene of Dutch explorers navigating a frozen landscape. Dated 1598, the image shows men in rugged clothing working to clear a path through the ice with axes and shovels, while a ship is stuck amidst the frozen terrain. The print is a testament to the early Dutch voyages of exploration and the challenges they faced in the Arctic regions. It is part of the Rijksmuseum collection and stands as a visual record of the arduous journeys undertaken by European adventurers in the late 16th century.