Af-beelding van de Buyten Amstel, des zoomers / Af-beelding van de Buyten Amstel, des winters 1767 - 1793

This print by G.N. Garama captures two contrasting scenes of the Buyten Amstel. Note the structured diptych of summer and winter. The top panel shows a summer scene, with its bustling waterway framed by detailed buildings and lush foliage. Below, the winter scene offers a stark contrast, depicting figures skating on a frozen canal bordered by bare trees and snow-covered buildings. The composition of each panel uses strong horizontal lines to guide the eye. The summer scene emphasizes depth through linear perspective, leading towards a distant cityscape punctuated by windmills. In contrast, the winter scene is dominated by a network of diagonals formed by the skaters and frozen canal. This creates a dynamic, almost dizzying sense of movement. The print's aesthetic lies in its meticulous detailing. The artist creates texture and depth through dense hatching and cross-hatching techniques, typical of engravings. This artwork presents a fascinating structural dialogue between the seasons, reflecting broader cultural ideas about nature and the human relationship to it.