The earliest style of Emile Claus was a naturalistic Realism. Under the influence of his Paris contemporaries, it soon evolved into Impressionism. Later, he adopted Luminism. De ijsvogels (The Kingfishers, literally The Ice Birds, known in English as The Skaters) records a crucial moment in this development. With this painting, Claus concluded three years of study and created a key work for the history of Belgian Impressionism. He achieved this atmospheric treatment of the wintry light by combining a brilliant technique with a harmonious and luminous colour palette. What makes this painting so impressive is the use of a very clear range of light colours, in which only the figures provide soft contrast. Colour and light are the dominant elements in the Luminism of Claus. The acquisition of The Skaters by the Ghent museum was an expression of public support for Claus’s new style, and the presence of this work in a public collection would also be decisive for the influence of Luminism on the young generation of painters.
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