Autumn 1770 - 1780

François Joseph Belanger created this plaster artwork entitled, Autumn, as a panel. Belanger was a leading designer during the reign of Louis XVI, and his work embodies the opulence and refined taste of the French aristocracy on the eve of revolution. This panel, overflowing with symbols of the harvest—grapes, vines, and gourds— speaks to the cultural values of the time. But it also points to a system of labor and land ownership that was deeply unequal. While the elite classes enjoyed the fruits of the harvest, the peasants who toiled in the fields faced immense hardship. The panel serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between beauty, privilege, and social justice during this period. Consider the ways in which the abundance depicted here is both visually appealing and historically significant. The artwork invites us to reflect on the intertwined histories of art, power, and social change.