Scene on the ice outside the town walls

Scene on the ice outside the town walls, a painting by Aert van der Neer (1655), is housed in the Museum Bredius. The artwork measures 0.75 meters in width and 0.625 meters in height.

The painting depicts a winter scene on a frozen canal or river outside the walls of a town. Numerous figures, dressed in the attire of 17th-century Dutch people, are ice skating and engaging in various winter activities on the ice. Some are in groups, others are alone. The background includes the town walls, buildings, and bare winter trees. The sky is overcast, with a mix of dark and lighter clouds. The overall palette is muted, with browns, grays, and whites dominating the color scheme. The scene is peaceful and evokes a sense of the quietude of a cold winter day.