Iceskating near a village

An open winter scene along a frozen river near a village, with a crowd of skaters filling the ice and a bridge, houses, and a church with a tall spire visible in the background. The composition leads the eye from the dark, bare trees and foreground activity toward the distant village, using a restrained palette of browns, yellows, and pale blues that creates atmospheric depth. The painting embodies Jan van Goyen’s tonal landscape style, with careful observation, fine detailing, and a calm, wintry mood.