December 1722 - 1784

This is Simon Fokke's engraving, "December," made in the 18th century. Here, bare trees, the frozen pond, and a distant church spire define the starkness of winter, while figures ice-skating evoke a sense of communal festivity and the pleasures of the season. The act of kneeling, prominently displayed by a figure in the foreground, echoes across time. It resurfaces in religious iconography as a gesture of supplication or reverence, as seen in depictions of biblical scenes, yet here it suggests a more secular display of courtship or deference. One is reminded of similar postures of reverence, from ancient Egyptian depictions of worship to Renaissance paintings of noble subjects. The contrast between the cold landscape and the warm social interactions mirrors the human spirit's resilience against nature’s harshest trials. This cyclical return to themes of cold and warmth serves as a reminder of how deeply embedded these symbols are in our collective memory, constantly reshaped by cultural and psychological forces.