Autumn from a set of The Seasons 1700 - 1715

This tapestry, "Autumn," was woven by John Chabanex in the early 18th century and now resides at The Met. It brims with symbols of the harvest. At the heart of the composition, we see the grape harvest, a motif reaching back to antiquity. Grapes, of course, are tied to Bacchus, the god of wine, ecstasy, and fertility. But before that, we must remember the ancient Mesopotamians, who offered wine to their gods. Note how the figures here engage in the grape harvest with an almost religious fervor. This recalls the Dionysian rites, moments of ecstatic union with nature. The image of the grape, transformed into wine, suggests not just physical sustenance but also spiritual transformation. The cyclical nature of the seasons mirrors the eternal recurrence found in ancient myths and rituals. The scene, filled with abundance, resonates with a primal desire for renewal and prosperity, a longing that transcends time.