Jacob van Ruisdael first trained under his uncle Salomon in Haarlem, and only settled in Amsterdam around 1657, evidently in pursuit of a larger market for his work. With powerful effects of light, movement and space, he emerged as a preeminent Dutch master of the Baroque landscape. He also applied his penchant for severity to the winter landscape, upending the tradition of depicting leisure activities on frozen rivers, as demonstrated in this scene of an isolated couple under a dark and stormy sky.