Summer 1630

"Summer" was painted by Peter Paul Rubens, sometime between 1600 and 1640, during the Baroque period. Rubens, who achieved international recognition as a painter and diplomat, presents a world teeming with life and commerce; though notice how hierarchical this seemingly natural scene truly is. Note the laborers struggling to pull the cart versus the gentry on horseback. This division of labor, a hallmark of the era, reflects a society rigidly stratified by class. This landscape, while bucolic, hints at the economic structures underpinning daily life. It subtly suggests the environmental impact of agricultural practices, which can still resonate today. Consider, as you continue through the gallery, how artists like Rubens captured the complexities of their societies, and what these historical visions tell us about our own values and priorities today.