City View in the Winter

Dirk Jan van der Laan

1790 - 1813

oil on panel

Rijksmuseum

A winter scene depicts people and a dog on a snow-covered street in front of brick buildings, with a church spire visible in the distance. The boy is all set for some wintry fun, holding up his skates in anticipation. The cold is so intense that the girl tucks her hands under her apron for warmth. The man in the doorway is likely a saddler, as indicated by his signboard. Another man arrives with a sleigh, carrying a harness used to attach a horse to a cart. The church steeple depicted here does not correspond to any existing steeple