De lente schetst het beeld der jeugd. / De zomer jongelieden deugd. / De herfst vertoont den huwelykstyd. / De winter wyst op d'eeuwigheid 1842 - 1856

This is a page of four copperplate engravings by P.J. Delhuvenne, likely made in the Netherlands, which allegorize the four seasons. The scenes are presented in oval frames, each accompanied by a short verse. Taken together, they present a conservative picture of the life cycle, closely tied to the seasons and labor. Spring represents youth, summer represents virtuous young people, autumn represents marriage, and winter points to eternity. The imagery and text place childhood, marriage, and civic duty as important social values. This didactic print reflects the social structures of its time, especially the importance of family and community. Studying the history of Dutch printmaking, alongside period literature and social histories, would reveal the degree to which Delhuvenne's work reinforced or challenged existing social norms. Art history is contingent on this broader cultural and institutional context.