Winter Scene with Figures Playing Kolf

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class="maker-link">Aert van der Neer</a> (Dutch, 1603-1677) </div> <span class="btn on-view">On View</span> <div class="description"><p>Aert van der Neer, a Dutch painter who worked primarily in Amsterdam, specialized in winter scenes and moonlit landscapes. Typical of his mature paintings, this composition is organized around a central body of water, which is bordered on the left by the thatched houses of a village and on the right by a community of cottages. The figures populating the scene endure the harsh weather conditions by participating in the pleasures of seasonal entertainment. Here, several skaters glide across the frozen river while two men enjoy a hearty game of kolf, a popular antecedent of modern golf played on the ice during the winter months. <br /> <br /> Despite the lively activity he depicts, the artist is mainly interested in conveying the winter season’s dramatic light and color effects. As such, the tinted light of the setting sun, as it is refracted by the clouds and moist atmosphere and reflects on the neutral landscape, provides the true subject of this enchanting painting.</p></div> </div> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 col-sm-12 col-md-6 col-md-offset-1"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12 details-slider"> <div class="slide"> <div class="detail-image-item"> <div class="img-wrap"> <a href="/art/viewer/F.1972.35.P" target="_blank"> <picture class="img-m1x main-image">  <source srcset="//images.nortonsimon.org/iipsrv/iipsrv.fcgi?QLT=100&IIIF=F197235P.jpf/full/!668,1002/0/default.jpg, //images.nortonsimon.org/iipsrv/iipsrv.fcgi?QLT=100&IIIF=F197235P.jpf/full/!668,1002/0/default.jpg 2x" media="(max-width: 767px)"> <source srcset="//images.nortonsimon.org/iipsrv/iipsrv.fcgi?QLT=100&IIIF=F197235P.jpf/full/!668,1002/0/default.jpg">  <img src="//images.nortonsimon.org/iipsrv/iipsrv.fcgi?QLT=100&IIIF=F197235P.jpf/full/!668,1002/0/default.jpg" alt="Winter Scene with Figures Playing Kolf" title="Winter Scene with Figures Playing Kolf" onerror="this.onerror='';this.parentNode.children[1].srcset = '/_resources/themes/nsm/images/defaults/collection-image-desktop.png';"/> </picture> </a> </div> <div class="desc-text"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-11"></div> <div class="col-xs-1"><a href="/art/viewer/F.1972.35.P" class="zoom-link"><i class="fa-thin fa-expand"><span class="sr-only">Zoom Image</span></i></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 details-slider-nav-thumbnails"> <a style="background-image: url('//images.nortonsimon.org/iipsrv/iipsrv.fcgi?QLT=100&IIIF=F197235P.jpf/full/!668,1002/0/default.jpg');"></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="alt-rows details-row"> <div class="container container-large"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12" style="padding-bottom:0;"> <h3 class="col_details">Details</h3> </div> <ul class="object-list col-xs-12"> <li class="col-list-item"> <span class="title">Artist Name: </span> <span class="text"><a href="https://www.nortonsimon.org/art/search-the-collection/result?artists[]=908" class="maker-link">Aert van der Neer</a> (Dutch, 1603-1677) </span> </li> <li class="col-list-item"> <span class="title">Title: </span> <span class="text">Winter Scene with Figures Playing Kolf </span> </li> <li class="col-list-item"> <span class="title">Date:</span> <span class="text"> 1655-1660 </span> </li> <li class="col-list-item"> <span class="title">Medium: </span> <span class="text">Oil on canvas </span> </li> <li class="col-list-item"> <span class="title">Dimensions: </span> <span class="text">22 1/4 x 30 1/2 in. (56.5 x 77.5 cm) </span> </li> <li class="col-list-item"> <span class="title">Credit Line: </span> <span class="text">The Norton Simon Foundation </span> </li> <li class="col-list-item"> <span class="title">Accession Number: </span> <span class="text">F.1972.35.P </span> </li> <li class="col-list-item"> <span class="title">Copyright: </span> <span class="text">© The Norton Simon Foundation </span> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="alt-rows object-row"> <div class="container container-large"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12"> <h3 class="obj_details">Object Information</h3> </div> </div> <div class="row object-items"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-md-6"> <div class="panel-group" id="accordion-provenance" role="tablist" aria-multiselectable="true"> <div class="panel panel-default"> <div class="panel-heading" role="tab" id="headingThree"> <h4 class="panel-title"><a class="collapsed" role="button" data-toggle="collapse" data-parent="#accordion-provenance" href="/art/detail/F.1972.35.P/#provenance" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="provenance"><i class="more-less pull-right fa-sharp fa-solid fa-circle-plus"></i>Provenance</a></h4> </div> <div id="provenance" class="panel-collapse collapse" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="headingThree"> <div class="panel-body">Charles William Mills, 2nd Baron Hillingdon (1865-1919), by descent to;<br> Arthur Robert Mills, 3rd Baron Hillingdon (1891-1952), Camelford House, Park Lane, Middlesex, by 1891, by descent to;<br> Charles Hedworth Mills, 4th Baron Hillingdon (1922- ), (Christies, 7 July 1972, lot 18, to);<br> [Edward Speelman, A.G., Zug, Switzerland, to];<br> The Norton Simon Foundation.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="panel-group" id="accordion-exhibitions" role="tablist" aria-multiselectable="true"> <div class="panel panel-default"> <div class="panel-heading" role="tab" id="headingThree"> <h4 class="panel-title"><a class="collapsed" role="button" data-toggle="collapse" data-parent="#accordion-exhibitions" href="/art/detail/F.1972.35.P/#exhibitions" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="exhibitions"><i class="more-less pull-right fa-sharp fa-solid fa-circle-plus"></i>Exhibition History</a></h4> </div> <div id="exhibitions" class="panel-collapse collapse" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="headingThree"> <div class="panel-body"> <p>[on loan]</p> <ul> <li>New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1972-08-30 to 1973-12-19</li> </ul> <p>[on loan]</p> <ul> <li>Princeton University Art Museum, 1974-05-02 to 1974-07-17</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 col-md-6"> <div class="panel-group" id="accordion-publications" role="tablist" aria-multiselectable="true"> <div class="panel panel-default"> <div class="panel-heading" role="tab" id="headingThree"> <h4 class="panel-title"><a class="collapsed" role="button" data-toggle="collapse" data-parent="#accordion-publications" href="/art/detail/F.1972.35.P/#publications" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="publications"><i class="more-less pull-right fa-sharp fa-solid fa-circle-plus"></i>Publication History</a></h4> </div> <div id="publications" class="panel-collapse collapse" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="headingThree"> <div class="panel-body"><ul> <li>Norton Simon Museum, <i>Selected Paintings at the Norton Simon Museum</i>, 1980, p. 60</li> <li>Bachmann, Fredo, <i>Aert van der Neer; 1603/4-1677</i>, 1982, pp. 22-23</li> <li>Sutton, Peter C., <i>A Guide to Dutch Art in America</i>, 1986, p. 218</li> <li><i>Masterpieces from the Norton Simon Museum</i>, 1989, p. 66</li> <li>Schulz, Wolfgang, <i>Aert van der Neer</i>, 2002, ill. 22, no. 45 pp. 85, 138</li> <li>Thomson, Duncan, <i>The Skating Minister: The Story Behind the Painting</i>, 2004, pp. 16-17</li> <li>Campbell, Sara, <i>Collector Without Walls: Norton Simon and His Hunt for the Best</i>, 2010, cat. 843 p. 344</li> <li>Anthony Speelman, <i>A Tale of Two Monkeys – Adventures in the Art World</i>, 2022, fig. 46 pp. 126-131, p. 127 (ill.)</li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="alt-rows"> <div class="container container-large"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-md-12"> <h3 class="related_media">Related Media</h3> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-6 col-md-3 col-center-block rel-item lang_en"> <a class="rel-img-holder" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#relatedAudio1"> <i class="fas fa-headphones"></i> </a> <div class="subtitle">Listen<button style="margin-left:4px;border:none;" class="audio-play-icon hidden" id="194_en_icon" data-rel="194_en" title="toggle stop"><i class="fas fa-play"></i></button></div> <div class="short-info">Audio Tour <br><a class="lang" data-lang="en">English</a> | <a class="lang" data-lang="es">Español</a></div> <div id="relatedAudio1" class="audio-modal modal" tabindex="-1" role="dialog"> <div class="modal-dialog" role="document"> <div class="modal-content"> <div class="modal-header"> <button type="button" class="close" data-dismiss="modal" aria-label="Close"><span aria-hidden="true">×</span></button> </div> <div class="modal-body"> <div class="audio-holder lang_en"> <div class="audio-item"> <audio src="//audio.nortonsimon.org/english/194.mp3" id="194_en" class="js-custom-audio" title=" Listen to the audio tour"></audio> </div> </div> </div> <div class="modal-footer"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-default" data-dismiss="modal">Close</button> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-xs-6 col-md-3 col-center-block rel-item lang_en"> <a class="rel-img-holder" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#relatedContent"> <i class="fas fa-book-reader"></i> </a> <div class="subtitle">Read</div> <div class="short-info"> Audio Tour Transcript<br><a class="lang" data-lang="en">English</a> | <a class="lang" data-lang="es">Español</a></div> <div class="content" style="display:none;"><strong>MALE NARRATOR:</strong><br> Before the 17th century, virtually all subjects for paintings—with the exception of portraiture—were either religious or historical. Landscape was considered nothing more than the background to a biblical, classical, or mythological scene. But in the Netherlands of the 1600s, the spirit of direct observation joined with a patriotic delight in hard-won independence from Catholic Spain; and paintings of the Dutch countryside became enormously popular. <br><br>In this painting by Aert van der Neer, villagers are playing a game of “kolf,” a form of ice hockey related to the Scottish game of golf. Its objective was to reach a given destination with a minimum number of strokes. Kolf parties were a popular way for young people to meet and spend time together, away from the watchful eyes of church elders. During the long winter, when boats could not travel on the frozen rivers and canals, ice-skating was an important means of transportation.<br><br>A pale, wintery light bathes the scene in diaphanous pinks, greys and blues, contrasting beautifully with the dark, earthy tones of the frigid landscape. Enterprising Dutch artists often improved upon what they saw—creating hills, expanding horizons, even moving buildings from one spot to another in their dedication to heralding the beauties of their low-lying country. </div> </div> <div class="col-xs-6 col-md-3 col-center-block rel-item lang_es"> <a class="rel-img-holder" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#relatedAudio2"> <i class="fas fa-headphones"></i> </a> <div class="subtitle">Escuchar<button style="margin-left:4px;border:none;" class="audio-play-icon hidden" id="194_es_icon" data-rel="194_es" title="toggle stop"><i class="fas fa-play"></i></button></div> <div class="short-info">Audioguía <br><a class="lang" data-lang="en">English</a> | <a class="lang" data-lang="es">Español</a></div> <div id="relatedAudio2" class="audio-modal modal" tabindex="-1" role="dialog"> <div class="modal-dialog" role="document"> <div class="modal-content"> <div class="modal-header"> <button type="button" class="close" data-dismiss="modal" aria-label="Close"><span aria-hidden="true">×</span></button> </div> <div class="modal-body"> <div class="audio-holder lang_es"> <div class="audio-item"> <audio src="//audio.nortonsimon.org/spanish/194.mp3" id="194_es" class="js-custom-audio" title=" Escuche el audio tour"></audio> </div> </div> </div> <div class="modal-footer"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-default" data-dismiss="modal">Close</button> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-xs-6 col-md-3 col-center-block rel-item lang_es"> <a class="rel-img-holder" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#relatedContent"> <i class="fas fa-book-reader"></i> </a> <div class="subtitle">Leer</div> <div class="short-info">Transcripción de Audioguía<br><a class="lang" data-lang="en">English</a> | <a class="lang" data-lang="es">Español</a></div> <div class="content" style="display:none;"><STRONG>NARRADOR:</STRONG> Antes del siglo XVII, prácticamente todos los temas de la pintura —con excepción de los retratos— eran asuntos religiosos o históricos. El paisaje era considerado únicamente como el fondo de una escena bíblica, clásica o mitológica. Pero, durante el siglo XVII en los Países Bajos se hizo muy popular la idea de observar directamente a la naturaleza; otros temas populares eran: el patriotismo, que sucedió a la independencia de la España católica, ganada con mucho esfuerzo, y los paisajes del campo holandés. En este cuadro realizado por Aert van der Neer, los aldeanos están jugando un juego de “kolf” una forma de jockey en el hielo, que está emparentado con el juego escocés del golf. Su objetivo era alcanzar un destino determinado con un mínimo de golpes. Los partidos de kolf eran para los jóvenes una forma muy popular de conocerse y pasar tiempo juntos, alejados de los ojos vigilantes de los líderes eclesiásticos. Durante el largo invierno, cuando los botes no podían viajar por los ríos ni por los canales congelados, el patinaje en el hielo se convertía en un importante medio de transporte. Una luz invernal pálida baña la escena con diáfanos rosados, grises y azules, creando un bello contraste con los tonos oscuros y terrosos del gélido paisaje. Los emprendedores artistas holandeses solían mejorar lo que veían—creando colinas, expandiendo horizontes, incluso moviendo edificios de un lugar a otro en su dedicación por divulgar las bellezas de su país, ubicado en una zona plana y baja. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="alt-rows"> <div class="container container-large artist-images"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-md-12"> <h3 class="col_artwork">Additional Artwork by Artist</h3> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-6 col-md-3 col-center-block rel-item img-item"> <a href="https://www.nortonsimon.org/art/detail/M.2010.1.87.P" alt="Soldiers and Villagers Leaving a Burning Village - Neer, Aert van der" title="Soldiers and Villagers Leaving a Burning Village" class="rel-img-holder" style="background-image: url('//images.nortonsimon.org/iipsrv/iipsrv.fcgi?QLT=100&IIIF=M2010187P.jpf/full/!330,1000/0/default.jpg');"></a> <span class="title caption">Soldiers and Villagers Leaving a Burning Village </span> <span class="maker caption">Aert van der Neer </span> <span class="date caption">1637 </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="alt-rows request-image"> <div class="container container-large"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-md-12"> <div class="panel-group" id="accordion-request-image" role="tablist" aria-multiselectable="true"> <div class="panel panel-default"> <div class="panel-heading" role="tab" id="requestImageHeader"> <h4 class="panel-title"><a class="collapsed" role="button" data-toggle="collapse" data-parent="#accordion-request-image" href="/art/detail/F.1972.35.P/#request-image" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="request-image"><i class="more-less pull-right fa-sharp fa-solid fa-circle-plus"></i><span class="panel-header-text">Request an Image</span></a></h4> </div> <div id="request-image" class="panel-collapse collapse" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="requestImageHeader"> <div class="panel-body columns-2"><p>Image reproduction permission may be granted for scholarly or arts related commercial use. All image requests, regardless of their intended purpose, should be submitted via the reproduction request form.</p><p>Images may be protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights. Additional permission may be required.</p><p>Please allow up to four weeks for your request to be reviewed. Approved requests for the reproduction of an image will receive a contract detailing all fees and conditions of use of the image. Upon receipt of both the signed contract and full payment, the Office of Rights and Reproductions will provide the image. 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Typical of his mature paintings, this composition is organized around a central body of water, which is bordered on the left by the thatched houses of a village and on the right by a community of cottages. The figures populating the scene endure the harsh weather conditions by participating in the pleasures of seasonal entertainment. Here, several skaters glide across the frozen river while two men enjoy a hearty game of kolf, a popular antecedent of modern golf played on the ice during the winter months. 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Winter Scene with Figures Playing Kolf » Norton Simon Museum