Wild Downhill Run, Jvh (1000 pieces)

The box art for this 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle sets the tone right away: a mountain village of snow-covered chalets, framed by two alpine peaks, where the cozy winter-sports mood quickly spirals into complete madness. A colourful hot air balloon floats in the sky while a small plane tows an advertising banner over rooftops strung with flag garlands, kicking off a wild downhill run that promises to be unforgettable.

Once assembled, the picture reveals a snowy slope packed with dozens of characters hurtling downhill every which way: classic wooden toboggans, plastic sleds, a big inflatable boat-shaped float and skiers cross paths, crash into each other and tumble over one another in a joyful free-for-all. At the top of the hill, a horse-drawn sled struggles to keep up with the pack, while a dog and a cat weave through the crowd right in the middle of the action. This flood of tiny details and visual gags, typical of Van Haasteren's comic jigsaw puzzles, promises hours of fun for anyone who loves spotting the little gags hidden in every corner of the picture.

The box displays the title of this cartoon scene in several languages - "Descente effrénée à la montagne" in French, "Van Onderen" in Dutch and "Es geht alles bergab" in German - a nod to the international success of Van Haasteren's puzzles. Like most Jumbo puzzles, this one is made from recycled cardboard, and a poster of the full artwork is included in the box to help with assembly.

The artwork is signed by Jan van Haasteren, a Dutch illustrator known for decades for his crowds of characters caught up in scenes that are as chaotic as they are packed with detail, puzzle after puzzle.

DIMENSIONS: completed puzzle measures 68 x 49 cm (26.8 x 19.3 in)