Viele Kostümfiguren auf dem Eis 

J. Blyhooft's drawing, likely from the late 17th or early 18th century, presents a scene of costumed figures enjoying themselves on the ice. The colour palette is dominated by muted earth tones and the figures are arranged loosely across the horizontal expanse of the composition. This gives the overall impression of a spontaneous, almost snapshot-like view. The formal structure reveals a fascinating tension between order and asymmetry. The figures are grouped unevenly, creating a dynamic rhythm that prevents the scene from feeling static. Blyhooft uses line and form to capture the nuances of movement, with figures leaning into their glides and skates leaving trails in their wake. The costumes denote status and identity. The function of the drawing is not merely representational but communicative: it's a tableau that uses clothing, composition, and activity to engage with contemporary ideas about social structure, and recreation. The arrangement and detailed attention to clothing might be read as performative, emphasizing the conscious construction of social identity. Ultimately, Blyhooft has created a piece rich in semiotic possibilities, a snapshot of a society at play.