Zomer 1580 - 1584

Johann Sadeler I created this engraving, titled "Zomer," at the cusp of the 17th century, a period marked by the rise of powerful merchant classes and burgeoning agricultural practices across Europe. Sadeler's depiction of summer transcends a mere seasonal representation. It delves into the socio-economic fabric of the time, where the rhythms of nature dictated the lives of many. Note how the abundance of the harvest is embodied in the reclining nude, a cornucopia of wheat, fruits, and gourds spilling forth. In contrast, the workers in the background reflect the labor on which this plenty depends. The image thus stages a complex dance between labor and leisure, highlighting how entwined these concepts were within the economic and social hierarchies of the period. What does it mean to see the season itself as a body at rest, even as others toil? This tension shapes not just the land, but the lives of those who live upon it.