Herfst en winter 1705 - 1754

Jacob de Wit rendered this drawing, "Autumn and Winter," using pen in brown and gray ink with brush in gray ink. It depicts allegorical figures of putti amidst symbols of the seasons. Here, the motifs of abundance and dormancy come alive. Grapes represent the harvest, a symbol of life's bounty, while the child covered with a cloak evokes the rest of winter. These aren't merely visual tropes; they echo ancient mythologies. The grape, for instance, has long been associated with Dionysus, the god of wine, ecstasy, and fertility. Its presence speaks of both plenty and the indulgence of earthly pleasures. Consider the artichoke, a rare motif, which could symbolize hope and prosperity, and think about how such imagery might trigger in our subconscious a longing for simpler times, when the rhythm of life was dictated by the harvest. This interplay of symbols reflects humanity’s ongoing effort to understand and represent the cyclical nature of life itself.