Schaatsers en kolfspelers op het ijs voor boerderijen 1610 - 1617

This is an etching, titled ‘Skaters and golfers on the ice in front of farmhouses’, made by an anonymous artist. It depicts a scene of winter leisure, but it subtly speaks to the social fabric of its time. The detailed rendering of the farmhouses suggests a rural setting, while the figures engaged in kolf, a precursor to golf, hint at a range of social classes coming together on the ice. There's a sense of communal activity, but look closer, and you might wonder about the unspoken rules governing who gets to play, and who is left watching. This image subtly captures how leisure activities could both unite and divide society, reflecting the nuances of class and community.