Mei, juni, juli en augustus 18th century

This print of 'May, June, July and August' was made by Johann Sebastian Müller around the mid-18th century using etching. It shows four scenes each representing a month in the form of seasonal activities. Made in Europe, probably Germany or the Netherlands, it shows May as a time of music and romance, June as a time for family, July as harvest time, and August as a time of leisure. Each panel provides a glimpse into the social order of the time, with its idealized vision of rural life. How did this image come to be? We know that prints such as these served multiple functions at this time. They served to communicate ideas, circulate images, and promote certain ways of life. The art market was very different back then and the role of institutions like the academy and the museum were just beginning to take shape. What was the relationship between these kinds of commercial images and what we might call 'high art'? Investigating questions like these helps us to understand the social world in which this image was made and circulated.