Vier jaargetijden 1822 - 1848

I.I. de Lanier’s ‘Four Seasons’ etching was made in Amsterdam, though the exact date is unknown. The prints were made by Minderman en Comp, probably for distribution to a wide audience. Arranged in four boxes, each scene depicts a different activity: spring sowing, summer harvesting, autumn fruit picking, and winter firewood collection. The images show the agricultural basis of Dutch society, and how people made the most of seasonal change. Each image is accompanied by a poem describing the specific activities that belong to each time of year. The Netherlands relied heavily on agriculture for sustenance and trade. Art in this period often represented daily life, in an effort to celebrate the virtues of diligence, modesty, and piety. The Rijksmuseum collection has extensive records of Dutch prints and printmakers. These help contextualize the ‘Four Seasons’ by showing how images of the seasonal rounds were part of the cultural landscape. Research into the Minderman publishing company might reveal distribution numbers and details.