Herfst: Bacchus en de druivenoogst 1568

Lambert Lombard created this print, "Herfst: Bacchus en de druivenoogst," around 1563. The composition centers on Bacchus, the god of wine, depicted with a lush garland of grapes and vines. The entire scene revels in the abundance of the harvest. Lombard masterfully employs line and texture. Notice how the dense cross-hatching models Bacchus's form, giving him a palpable weight and volume, while the background is rendered with lighter strokes to create depth and atmosphere. The figures harvesting grapes in the background add dynamism and depth. The barrel in the foreground grounds the figure of Bacchus. The engraving's systematic organization invites a semiotic interpretation, with Bacchus as a signifier for the season of autumn and its associated themes of fertility and abundance. The print isn't merely representational; it's a structured arrangement of symbols and forms that prompts us to consider the broader cultural significance of the harvest.