Frost Fair on a Frozen River with Ships

Hendrik Kobell (1751–1779), pen, grey ink, watercolour, over pencil, 1773

Draughtsman Hendrik Kobell, who died young, drew mainly marine and coastal views with ships. His hometown of Rotterdam had a large harbour, which traded extensively with England and America. After Hendrick Avercamp and Jan van Goyen, frost fairs – with people skating and walking on the ice and food stalls – had become a traditional genre in Dutch art. Kobell’s icebound ships added a new motif to the theme.

  • Artwork typedrawing, aquarel
  • Object numberRP-T-1952-11
  • Dimensionsheight 188 mm x width 265 mm
  • Physical characteristicsaquarel, pen in grijs, potlood