Hendrick Avercamp - Peasants Loading Hay

Hendrick Avercamp (1585-1634) was a Dutch painter known for his winter landscapes and scenes of everyday life in the Netherlands. He was born in Amsterdam, but spent most of his life in Kampen, where his deafness earned him the nickname 'The Mute of Kampen'. Avercamp's paintings often depict figures engaged in winter activities such as skating, sledging and ice fishing. His work is characterised by meticulous detail and the use of light and shadow to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. Avercamp's style was a major influence on later Dutch landscape painters, especially the Haarlem School.