Adam van Breen (1585 – 1642)

Adam van Breen was a prominent Netherlandish artist of the Dutch Golden Age of painting. He specialized in winter landscapes, which were distinguished by their exceptional detail and picturesqueness. In 1612, he became a member of the Guild of St. Luke in The Hague. Adam van Breen is known for his works depicting ice skating on frozen rivers and canals, which are among the earliest and most striking examples of the winter landscape genre.

His paintings depict the lives of ordinary people going about their daily business against the backdrop of snow-covered urban and rural landscapes. His works are characterized by attention to detail and the use of chiaroscuro, which gives the scenes a special atmosphere and realism. Between 1611 and 1618, van Brune worked in The Hague, where he developed his unique style, inspired by Adriaen van de Venne, Hendrick and Barent Avercamp. His subjects in his compositions are more powerful and confident, sometimes even portrayed in detail.

Van Brune also influenced the official context of The Hague, where a remarkable school of portrait painters developed. In the 1640s, he left the Netherlands and moved to Norway, where he settled in Christiania (now Oslo). During this period, he created several outstanding portraits. His works had a significant influence on the development of the winter landscape genre and on subsequent artists both in the Netherlands and abroad.