Editing Hendrick Avercamp (section)

==Artwork==
[[File:Hendrick Avercamp - IJsvermaak bij een stad.jpg|thumb|318x318px|''Enjoying the Ice near a Town'' (1620)]]
Avercamp probably painted in his studio on the basis of sketches he had made in the winter.
Avercamp was famous even from abroad for his winter landscapes. The passion for painting skating characters probably came from his childhood as he practiced skating with his parents. The last quarter of the 16th century, during which Avercamp was born, was one of the coldest periods of the [[Little Ice Age]].

The Flemish painting tradition is mainly expressed in Avercamp's early work. This is consistent with the landscapes of [[Pieter Bruegel the Elder]]. Avercamp painted landscapes with a high horizon and many figures who were working on something. Many of his paintings are narrative-based, with many anecdotes. For instance, included in the painting ''[[Winter Landscape with Skaters]]'' are several prurient details: a couple making love, naked buttocks, and a peeing male. 

Avercamp used the painting technique of [[aerial perspective]]. The depth is suggested by a change of color in the distance. To the front objects are painted in richer colors, such as trees or a boat, while farther objects are lighter. This technique strengthens the impression of depth in the painting.

Sometimes Avercamp used paper frames, which were a cheap alternative to oil paintings. He first drew with pen and ink. This work was then covered with finishing paint. The contours of the drawing remained. Even with this technique, Avercamp could show the pale wintry colors and nuances of the ice. Avercamp has also painted cattle and seascapes. Later in his life drawing the atmosphere was also important in his work.

Avercamp produced about a hundred paintings. The bulk of his artwork can be seen in the [[Rijksmuseum]] in Amsterdam and the [[Mauritshuis]] in [[The Hague]]. 
From November 20, 2009, to February 15, 2010, the Rijksmuseum presented an exhibition of his work entitled The "Little Ice Age".