Hier ziet gy lente- en zomertyd, / En herfst en winter; dus de deelen [(...)] 1806 - 1830

Editor: So, here we have "Hier ziet gy lente- en zomertyd, / En herfst en winter; dus de deelen [(...)]", a print by Johan Noman, made sometime between 1806 and 1830. It feels almost like a little comic strip, depicting the seasons. What strikes you about it? Curator: You know, it does have that comic strip vibe, doesn't it? What I find so charming is the way Noman distills the essence of each season into these small vignettes. The spring scene with the ploughing and planting, summer's picnicking, the autumnal harvest, and winter’s… well, what exactly is happening in winter, do you think? Is that someone ice-skating or just bracing against the cold? Editor: It's hard to tell! It could be either, really. But regardless, there's this sense of everyday life, you know? Curator: Exactly! It’s the beautiful simplicity. This print acts like a little mirror to Dutch Golden Age life, reflecting its rhythms, its dependence on the land, and its quiet pleasures. Notice the little poems beneath each panel. These aren't just pictures; they're moral lessons dressed up as landscapes! Editor: So it’s meant to be both pretty and educational? Curator: Precisely! Art then was frequently interwoven with instruction. It encouraged contemplation and a good work ethic! What does the artwork tell us now? Editor: I guess it shows that while times have changed, some things – like the seasons, and hard work – stay the same. Curator: Indeed. And that sometimes the simplest images carry the richest stories.