Winter 1570

Editor: So, this is "Winter" by Pieter van der Heyden, created sometime in the mid-16th century. It’s an engraving, and there’s this amazing energy, people slipping and sliding on the ice. What strikes you most when you look at it? Curator: Oh, the sheer vivacity, the contained chaos! It's like a Breughel painting distilled into monochrome. The artist invites us to consider the follies of humankind, set against the indifference of a frozen landscape. Notice the details, the costumes, the gestures... it's a world unto itself. Editor: It's incredible all the detail Heyden managed to pack into the engraving. Curator: It does make you wonder if he was one of the people pictured having a good time on the ice. Editor: It makes you wonder what to look for next time you are out skating. Curator: Indeed! What a treat.