Personificatie van de zomer 1733 - 1755

This is A.J. Defehrt’s “Personification of Summer,” an engraving, meaning it was made by carefully incising lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper. Engraving was a highly skilled, labor-intensive process. Here, it creates a delicate balance between light and shadow, capturing the textures of the flowing dress, the bundle of harvested wheat, and the feathery trees in the background. The allegorical figure of summer is entwined with nature, holding the tools and rewards of agricultural labor. Consider the social context: while this image idealizes rural life, it also speaks to the economic realities of 18th-century Europe. The harvest was a crucial time, and those who labored in the fields were essential to society, yet often overlooked. The print invites the viewer to contemplate the relationship between the seasons, human effort, and the abundance of nature. Ultimately, this print reminds us that even seemingly simple images are the result of human ingenuity, technical skill, and the complex relationship between art, labor, and the natural world.