Winterlandschap met schaatsenrijders Possibly 1789

Jacob Ernst Marcus created this winter scene with pen and gray ink, and brush in gray, sometime during his lifetime, between 1774 and 1826. Marcus lived through the Batavian Revolution where revolutionary ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity took hold in the Netherlands, transforming the country’s cultural and political landscape. This drawing offers a glimpse into a frozen world animated by the activities of everyday people. In the foreground, we see figures gliding across the ice. A child is pulled along in a sled, while others skate in groups, some hauling branches. The architecture of the church and windmills in the background serve as a reminder of the cultural backdrop against which these intimate scenes play out. The image invites us to consider the ways in which leisure and community intersect with the environment and cultural identity. While we can't know definitively what Marcus intended, this work provides insight into the social fabric and values of his time.