Breaking the Ice

Canvas with the painting Ice sawing on Hammarby lake which shows a contemporary folk life during the 19th century. Blocks of ice were sawed up from frozen lakes in the winter and placed in huge piles covered with thick layers of sawdust. This was enough to preserve the ice throughout the year. The blocks of ice were then delivered to homes by so-called ice men. In homes, the ice blocks were stored in so-called ice cabinets which were common during the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century until the modern refrigerator was introduced and became available to households.

The artist Ehrenfried Wahlqvist painted this work in oil while standing on the beach at Liljeholmen's candle factory in 1864. He was very skilled in his work with light variations and here he has produced a thin haze with a golden glow from a pale winter sun. In the background you can see Danviken Hospital with its church tower and behind the oak is Fåfängan by Saltsjön. On the ice you see two boys skating.

Artist : Wahlqvist, Ehrenfried | Created : 1864 | Publisher : Stockholm City Museum | Item ID : SSM 2424 | Copyright: CC-BY

Frame not included.

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