The Overtoom, Amsterdam, in summer, with the Kostverloren Wetering to the left and the Overtoomse Vaart to the right; and the Polderhuis by the Weteringpoort, Amsterdam, in winter, with the overhaal between the Boerenwetering and the Mennonietensloot to the right

The winter scene depicts the Polderhuis on the left and the overhaal, or slipway, on the right. The Polderhuis was a famous pub, located near the Weteringpoort (today the corner of the Ruysdaelkade and the Stadhouderskade) that was only demolished in 1924. The slipway was used to pull up the vegetable barges, which came from the Boerenwetering, to the higher water-level of the Mennonietensloot. The latter was filled in circa 1880, becoming the present Museumplein, while the Boerenwetering was tranformed into the canal found at present between the Ruysdaelkade and the Hobbemakade. In Ouwater's time, the area was still quite picturesque and rural, with vegetable gardens lined up along the Boerenwetering, and was a popular neighbourhood for a pleasant stroll or a quiet drink. The view is found elsewhere in eighteenth-century painting, for example Jan ten Compe's View of the Polderhuis and the overhaal, Amsterdam in the Amsterdams Historisch Museum (see H.C. de Bruijn, 'Amsterdamse gezichten van Jan ten Compe (1713-1761)', Antiek, no. 8, March 1974, pp. 621-4).

For the artist, see the note to lot 1225.