Calendar: March (Peasants at Work on a Feudal Estate) 1416

The Limbourg brothers made this illumination on vellum, Calendar: March (Peasants at Work on a Feudal Estate), in France in the early 15th century. It's part of a book of hours, meant for private devotion by a wealthy patron. But look closer: while the upper half depicts astrological symbols befitting the month, the lower half presents a detailed scene of peasant life. We see laborers plowing fields and tending vines beneath the imposing Chateau de Lusignan. The castle dominates the composition, emphasizing the rigid social hierarchy of feudal society. These books of hours were luxury items, and the image, therefore, offers a glimpse into the lives of those who toiled to support the aristocratic lifestyle. It is a reminder of the vast social and economic inequalities that existed at the time. To fully understand its meaning, we can look into manorial records, account books, and other documents that illuminate the economic and social structures of the late medieval period. The image then becomes a testament to the complex relationship between art, power, and social life.