7th Grade: JANUARY Winter Landscape with Skaters Hendrick Avercamp

© 2013 Debra J. Herman, M.F.A., All Rights Reserved Funded by the John and Frances Beck Foundation, Chicago, Illinois Edited by Constance Kammrath, M.A.

About the Artist studied under these two masters rather than Isacqs. Avercamp The following information is provided to give classroom teachers was young and impressionable and, like his mentors, wanted to a comprehensive understanding of the artist and artwork. Use devote his life to landscape painting. your judgment on what to share with your students based on their level of curiosity, observation/inquiry skills, comprehension and Avercamp was thought to have left Amsterdam and returned to age-appropriateness. Kampen around 1613 and stayed there for the remainder of his life, proven by four documents: an inscription on the back of a Hendrick Avercamp drawing, a bill of sales for two horses, a petition made by Aver- Hendrick Avercamp, named after his paternal grandfather, was camp’s mother to receive extra financial support for him follow- the first child born to Barent Avercamp and Beatrix Peters in ing her death, and Avercamp’s funeral record. It is believed he Amsterdam, Netherlands. His actual birthdate is unknown but lived in his mother’s house until the time of his death on May 15, records indicate he was baptized on January 27, 1585. 1634, at the approximate age of forty-nine.

Avercamp’s family moved to the small town of Kampen soon Avercamp’s subject matter was scenes of life on the ice. During after his first birthday, where his father served as apothecary for his life span, he experienced countless severe winters known as ten years. Beatrix gave birth to another six children in Kampen, the Little Ice Age in the Netherlands, which impacted everyday two of whom died. It was at this time that Avercamp’s inability life. Frozen waterways prevented delivery of supplies. Growing to speak became apparent and he eventually became known as seasons were shortened so less produce was grown and what little the “Mute of Kampen.” Some believe he was also deaf. Despite produce was grown was depleted far before winter’s end. Deep this limitation, his sight and ability to observe became his freezes, with temperatures at –15F for two months, challenged strength. The Avercamp family was well-educated and wealthy everyone; many froze to death. so one can assume the young Avercamp had every opportunity to learn to lip-read, read text and write. It was after one of the most severe winters (1607-1608) that Avercamp painted the ice scene, Winter Landscape with Skaters The family moved back to Amsterdam but soon returned to (1608), of people outside enjoying winter activities including ice Kampen upon the urging of the town council as many citizens games and merriment. It appears that everyone spilled outdoors were suffering with the plague. Not only was Avercamp’s father to enjoy the fun. Perhaps it was a few days break from the ex- the apothecary, he soon assumed the role of town doctor, yet in treme cold. 1602, became a victim of the plague epidemic. The untimely death of Avercamp’s father did not place a financial strain on the Avercamp signed his art but he rarely dated his paintings or his Avercamp family; nonetheless, his mother felt a strong need to drawings, thus presenting a challenge when trying to put his work carry on the work of her husband. She received permission from in chronological order. Experts look carefully at clothing trends the town council to assume the work of her husband and trained captured in the painting as clues for time periods. Shifting trends her growing sons in the apothecary practice. in landscape painting styles also left clues. For example, in his early work, Avercamp broke the horizon line by placing a castle It is thought Avercamp’s early connection to art began with les- or other large building in sons by the town painter who served also as a surveyor and may the middle of the horizon, have dabbled in landscape painting. Another clue reveals that at a such as inWinter Land- 1607 estate sale of Flemish landscape painter Gillis van Co- scape with Skaters (c. ninxloo in Amsterdam, a single buyer purchased many of the 1608). Later, he shifted paintings. Records show the buyer was identified as the twenty- the placement of a build- two year old “Mute of Kampen. At the time, Avercamp was liv- ing off to the side, elimi- ing in the house of Danish portrait painter Pieter Isacqs while nated the bare trees and receiving instruction in painting. Oddly enough, Avercamp’s lowered the horizon line style of painting has no resemblance to that of his assumed to reveal a large, uninterrupted horizon. He established a greater teacher but rather was more in the style of Gillis van Coninxloo sense of visual depth such as in Winter Landscape on the River and Flemish painter David Vinckboons, especially in the genre of Ijsel Near Kampen (c. 1615). Notice ice colf was a recreational winter landscapes, giving indication that Avercamp probably sport, “colf” meaning club or stick. Discipline-Based Art Education Avercamp’s art was known for the subject you survive a 16th or 17th century win- The following components are integral to stu- matter which captured the harshness of life ter? Research the living conditions of that dents having a complete, well rounded art experience. during the Little Ice Age as well as providing time period in the Netherlands. Art Aesthetics a glimpse of the social scene, among both the 5. Compositionally, Avercamp’s paintings Providing opportunities to develop percep- peasant and the wealthy class. Amsterdam’s are packed with images to view. Discuss tion and appreciation of visually expressed international trade encouraged a wide variety how this is engaging for the viewer. ideas and experiences. Art Production of clothing and merchants who eventually 6. Avercamp’s style shifted throughout his Providing opportunities to develop skills and supported minor clothing industries in career. Research other artists to see how techniques for creative visual expressions of Kampen. Whether the aristocracy was from their artistic work also shifted. Why do emotions and ideas. Amsterdam or visiting their leased farms in you think this happens? Is it a good Art History Providing opportunities to develop an under- Kampen, they were captured in fashion-detail thing? How does your artwork change standing of the visual arts as a basic com- in Avercamp’s drawings and painting. The ice over the years? ponent of personal heritage. scenes were socially inclusive of all groups, 7. Given the harsh winters and Avercamp’s Art Criticism from rich to poor. However, in the midst of positive and happy scenes, did he express Providing an opportunity to develop an intellectual basis for analyzing and making the harsh winters, was Avercamp’s impression reality? Research Norman Rockwell and aesthetic judgments based on an under- of life on the ice reality or fiction? compare his images of everyday life in standing of visual ideas and experiences. America to Avercamp’s work. 8. Avercamp had physical challenges and ELEMENTS OF ART About the Art  Line: A continuous mark Winter Landscape with Skaters was executed, was able to find his strength in observa-  Shape: Area enclosed by a line oil on panel in 1608 by the Dutch painter Hen- tion. What are your artistic challenges?  Color: Hue, reflection of light. drick Avercamp. It is one of the rare paintings How can you turn them into your artistic  Texture: Surface quality, real or implied that Avercamp actually dated upon its comple- strengths?  Form: 3D shape or illusion of 3D  Value: Graduated areas of light/dark tion. The painting measures 34.4 x 52 inches  Space: Illusion of depth and is in the collection of Rijksmuseum, Am- Things to Do sterdam, Netherlands. It features a bird’s eye 1. Biographical information on individuals PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN view of a village whose residents, of all ages, who lived long ago in the 16th century is  Repetition: Imagery repeating pattern hard to come by. Researchers must rely  Variety: Contrast/variation are enjoying winter activities. One can imag-  Rhythm: Issues of eye movement ine listening to the sounds and noises of the on bits and pieces of information to re-  Balance: Even visual weight activities. In its likeness to the contemporary construct someone’s life. Research the  Emphasis/Economy: Dominance/ “Where is Waldo” scene, the eyes spin around jobs of curators and biographers. minimalism 2. Compare and contrast the winter scenes  Proportion: Compare size relationships to take in the action. No one focal point, no object or person or action steals the scene and of Avercamp and Pieter Bruegel the El- COMPOSITION demands our attention. Avercamp’s style is der. Which do you prefer?  Symmetrical: Mirrored imagery consistent with the work of an earlier Flemish 3. Since Avercamp rarely dated his work, it  Asymmetrical: Random placement was difficult to trace it chronologically.  Radial: Mirror image from center point painter, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, who was  Repetition: Repeating pattern, motif among the first to paint winter scenes, as early Prepare images of scenes in various dec- as 1565. As does Bruegel, Avercamp gives a ades and see if others can put them in ARTISTIC STYLES panoramic view of the village. The high hori- order based on fashion trends.  Realism: Realistic representation 4. Create quick sketches of a class of stu-  Abstraction: Personal interpretation zon gives the artist ample space to create the  Non-Objective: No recognizable depiction activity within the town. They both included dents playing on the playground and cap- in their scenes a bird trap made with a discard- ture their various activities. Once back in ELEMENTS OF DESIGN IN PICTURE ed wood door. the classroom, further develop your draw- BOOKS ings. Create small paintings from the Literature that relates to this lesson due to drawings or collaborate with others to elements of art or story content are: Directed Observation create a larger scene.  Gallery Ghost: Find the Ghost who Paints Show students an image of Winter Landscape 5. Create several landscape drawings and the Most! by Anna Nilsen with Skaters. Tell them it was painted, oil on pay attention to the horizon line, placing  Seventeenth-Century Dutch and Flemish panel, in 1608, by the artist Hendrick Aver- Paintings by Ivan Gaskell some high on the page and others low. camp. Offer students biographical information Also examine “breaking“ the horizon line about Avercamp. After some time for think- REFERENCE/BIBLIOGRAPHY with a building or tree. ing, encourage students to share what they  Hephaestus Books. Dutch Golden Age 6. Examine how Avercamp captured the Painters, including: Ambrosius Bosschaert, see. Welcome all comments. The following reflective quality of ice. Try creating a Aelbert Cuyp, Hendrick Avercamp, Jan Van are suggested questions to help students use scene on ice with your choice of materials Goyen, Johannes Vermeer, Frans Hals, art vocabulary to talk about the work. Paulus Flinck, Carel Fabritius, Pieter De Make sure the ice reflects the images. 1. Take time to closely examine Winter Hooch. Hephaestus Books. 2011 7. Avercamp was inspired by life on the ice. Landscape with Skaters. Identify and  Roelofs, Pieter, Hendrick Avercamp: Master Image yourself as a visual artist. What of the Ice Scene. RIJKS Museum. Amster- share the activities of the people. type of work will you create? What will it dam. 2009 2. Based on this painting, what can you de- look like? What will your inspiration be?  Van Suchtelen, Ariane. Holland Frozen in termine about the lives of these people? Where will you live and work? Write an Time. The Dutch Winter Landscape in the 3. How could they have survived during the Golden Age. Waanders Uitgevers. 2001 imaginary biography of your life as an harsh winter? artist. Be sure to include images of your 4. Compare their lives to your life. Could art. If you can dream it, it might happen!