January

Art Historical Context

Jan van de Velde II’s 1618 etching *January* captures the lively spirit of a Dutch winter during the early seventeenth century. The scene shows men, women, and children enjoying outdoor activities on a frozen landscape, including ice skating and traveling by horse-drawn sleigh. Created as part of a series representing the months of the year, the print reflects the popularity of seasonal imagery in the Dutch Republic, where harsh winters—part of the so-called Little Ice Age—shaped both daily life and artistic themes. As an etching, the work demonstrates the medium’s ability to render fine details and dynamic movement through delicate line work. Van de Velde, active during the Dutch Golden Age, specialized in such accessible prints that brought scenes of ordinary life to a wide audience. The trimmed sheet, measuring roughly 27 by 36 centimeters, would have been affordable and collectible, allowing viewers to appreciate both the recreational pleasures of winter and the artist’s skillful observation of light, texture, and atmosphere. Today, this print in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection offers a charming window into seventeenth-century Dutch culture, celebrating community, seasonal rhythms, and the simple joys of ice and snow.

About the Artist

Jan van de Velde II · 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...