IJsvermaak 1821 - 1870

Curator: This engraving, entitled "IJsvermaak," which roughly translates to "Ice Skating Fun," captures a lively winter scene. Its creation is dated somewhere between 1821 and 1870, and the piece resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Ah, a crisp day, rosy cheeks, the faint bite of winter! It feels like a memory trying to surface—childhood joy tinged with the ever-present threat of a spectacular fall. The flurry of activity suggests that there is definitely a story happening here. Curator: Indeed. Looking at the print's materiality, notice the delicate detail achievable through engraving. It was a process of meticulous labor to transfer imagery to mass-produced sheets of paper. Note how the image captures leisure during an era deeply affected by burgeoning industrial labor practices. Editor: I see the precision you describe, yes, but I can’t help feeling a bit of romantic longing for what is shown here! These little lives played out on ice; notice the comical stumble of the skating couple and how it juxtaposes with a child who looks on with an unyielding desire to get back to skating again! Curator: From a materials perspective, these prints became readily available and circulated widely; as such, this one represents a fascinating confluence of increased leisure and accessibility to printed material during that century. Editor: That makes sense! It is interesting how this makes something that appears, at first, to be simple visual storytelling into something that reflects a seismic change happening throughout the culture! Curator: Precisely! The very act of purchasing and displaying such a print speaks to changing social dynamics and evolving forms of consumption. Editor: And still, despite the social forces you so carefully illuminate, one cannot deny the simple narrative being presented. Looking closely now, I see that the windmill in the background is turning slowly. Curator: Right! Well, hopefully, these observations will provide everyone with additional context for a work with surprising layers! Editor: I appreciate that, a bit of historical grounding gives it so much more dimension and brings the artist’s creation to life for me.