Man Met Kolfstok 1625

This is Hendrick Avercamp's sketch “Man with a Golf Club”, made sometime before 1634. Avercamp was one of the first Dutch artists to specialize in winter landscapes. This sketch provides a glimpse into the leisure activities of the Dutch Golden Age, but it also subtly underscores the social hierarchies of the time. Notice the man's attire, which suggests he belongs to a higher social class, able to afford the time and equipment for such a sport. Golf, or "kolf," was a popular pastime among the elite, often played on frozen canals and waterways during the harsh winters. The game became a social stage where status and wealth were both performed and reinforced. Avercamp, who was deaf and mute, had a unique perspective, capturing scenes of everyday life with a keen eye for detail and human interaction. He gives us not just an image of recreation, but also a coded study of identity, class, and the ways in which people navigate their social landscape.