Dus toont men hier een schets van wintervrolykheden, / Of die men daar voor houdt, bedreeven op het ys. / Hy, die 'er smaak in vindt, kan op verscheiden wys / Genoeglyk zynen tyd, en ook zyn geld besteden 1806 - 1830

This etching by Johan Noman, created around the early 19th century, offers a glimpse into winter leisure in the Netherlands. More than just a picturesque scene, it reveals social dynamics of the time through its visual codes and cultural references. We see figures enjoying the ice: some travel in style in a horse-drawn sleigh, while others gather at a makeshift tent, marked by a Dutch flag. Windmills dot the horizon, a classic element of the Dutch landscape. Consider how geography shaped the recreational activities of the Dutch people. The print also provides textual commentary – verse in Dutch – which frames how we should understand the scene. To truly understand this artwork, we might delve into historical archives to discover the social status of winter recreation and the specific meanings these activities held for the Dutch at that time. Art history reminds us that an image's meaning is always dependent on its cultural and institutional context.