Frisian Fisherman & Winter Costume Scene, Dutch Costume Lithograph, c.1840

Frisian Fisherman & Winter Costume Scene, Dutch Costume Lithograph, c.1840

This charming hand-colored lithograph titled Friesländische Fischer u. Frau. Friesländerin m. Schlitten u. Schlittschuhen (“Frisian Fisherman and Wife. Frisian Woman with Sled and Ice Skates”) presents a lively depiction of traditional costume and winter life in Friesland, in the northern Netherlands. Published around 1840 as part of the Völkergalerie series by Goedsche, the print belongs to the popular 19th-century European tradition of ethnographic costume illustration.

The composition portrays several Frisian figures dressed in regional attire associated with fishing communities and winter travel. At left, a fisherman stands beside traditional equipment and netting, while a seated woman spins or works with textile materials. In the background, another woman glides across the ice on a low wooden sled while wearing skates, an evocative reference to the famous Dutch skating culture and frozen winter canals of the Netherlands.

The vivid hand coloring and naïve yet highly decorative style give the lithograph exceptional charm. Such costume prints were intended to introduce European audiences to the customs, dress, and daily life of various peoples and regions, functioning both as educational illustrations and attractive decorative images.

This print is especially appealing for collectors of Dutch history, Frisian culture, skating imagery, folk costume, and 19th-century ethnographic prints. The scene also carries particular regional interest due to its depiction of Friesland, one of the Netherlands’ most culturally distinct provinces, renowned for its winter traditions and maritime heritage.

The composition works beautifully as a decorative object, especially in Dutch interiors, winter-themed collections, or grouped displays of European costume engravings.

Special note: This is an original antique lithograph, not a reproduction. All items we offer are authentic period works of art over 100 years old. The print is sold unframed; any framed images are shown for presentation and interior inspiration only and may not always be to scale with the original.

Condition report: Overall in good antique condition with age-related toning and light handling wear consistent with mid-19th-century costume prints. Original hand coloring remains fresh and attractive. Minor marginal wear and faint spotting visible. Please study the image carefully.

Framing tips: This lithograph displays beautifully in light oak, walnut, or black lacquer frames paired with warm ivory mats. Its colorful folk costumes and winter subject make it especially suitable for Dutch interiors, skating-themed collections, or gallery wall arrangements of European regional costume prints.

Technique: Hand-colored lithograph

Maker: Goedsche, Völkergalerie series, Germany, circa 1840