Get a glimpse of history at our local museum. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, is home to Winter Landscape with Ice Skaters by Hendrick Avercamp, a 17th-century Dutch painter known for his lively depictions of frozen scenes. At first glance, this painting might seem like a simple winter pastime, but it actually captures a moment in history shaped by the Little Ice Age—a centuries-long period of colder-than-average temperatures that transformed daily life in Northern Europe.
During the Little Ice Age, canals and rivers that rarely froze became icy highways, and winter recreation became a central part of life. Avercamp’s work reflects this reality, showing townspeople skating, socializing, and going about their routines in a world adapted to extreme cold. Without knowing the history, a viewer might see only a charming winter scene, missing the deeper story of climate and resilience hidden within the brushstrokes.
Seeing this painting in Boston makes the history even more accessible. While the Dutch of Avercamp’s time embraced the cold as a way of life, New Englanders know the challenge of harsh winters all too well. Standing before this masterpiece at the MFA, you can appreciate not only its artistry but also the way weather shapes culture—both then and now.
