February, from "Twelve Months"

Art Historical Context

This etching titled *February*, created by Jan van de Velde II and published by Johannes Janssonius between 1608 and 1618, forms part of a depicting the Twelve Months. a Dutch artist active during the Golden Age, van de Velde specialized in detailed landscape prints that captured the rhythms of everyday life and the changing seasons. The work portrays a wintry Dutch scene centered on ice skating, a beloved activity that reflected both the harsh winters of the period and the communal spirit of the Netherlands. Etchings like this one allowed for intricate line work that brought texture to snow-covered landscapes and lively figures on the ice. Produced in the first state of two, it highlights the technical precision of early seventeenth-century printmaking, which made art more accessible beyond elite collectors. The series format echoes longstanding traditions in Northern European art, where monthly cycles symbolized the passage of time and humanity’s connection to nature. Today housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, this piece offers viewers a charming glimpse into historical winter pastimes while showcasing van de Velde’s skill in transforming simple scenes into evocative narratives.

About the Artist

Jan van de Velde II|Johannes Janssonius · 1593–1641

Jan van de Velde II (1593–1641) was one of the most accomplished Dutch printmakers and draughtsmen of the early seventeenth century, born in Haarlem into a dynasty of celebrated calligraphers and artists. His father, Jan van de Velde I, was a renowned writing master, and his cousin Willem van de Velde the Elder would later become a distinguished marine painter. Jan II studied engraving under Jacob...