Aert van der Neer

Aert van der Neer was a Dutch painter of the Golden Age who specialized in atmospheric landscapes. Born around 1603, he became a master of two demanding subjects, moonlit night scenes and winter landscapes on the ice. His nocturnes glow with the reflection of the moon on water, while his winter scenes show tiny figures skating under wide, cloudy skies.

Despite his skill, he struggled to make a living from art and ran a tavern for a time, dying in poverty. Only later did collectors fully appreciate his subtle handling of light and mood. Van der Neer's serene moonlit rivers and frosty winter days are now prized as some of the most poetic landscapes of Dutch painting.