Juli 17th century

This anonymous small print, titled Juli, portrays agricultural labor, set against the zodiac sign for Leo. The woodcut reflects a Northern European tradition, which often depicted the months of the year through the agricultural tasks associated with them. In this image, we see laborers harvesting, their bodies bent, in communal toil. The image also presents a complex interplay between humanity and the cosmos, as the toiling figures work under the looming sign of Leo. The sun sign infuses daily labor with a larger cosmic order. This image is more than a representation of labor; it touches upon the cultural meanings ascribed to certain times of the year, the rhythms of rural life, and humanity's relationship with both labor and the celestial. This image echoes the endless and often backbreaking labor that defined the lives of so many.