Monatsbild August, oben links das Zeichen der Jungfrau c. 1622

Curator: This is "Monatsbild August, oben links das Zeichen der Jungfrau," or "August Scene, Virgo Symbol Top Left," created around 1622 by Matthäus Merian the Elder. It's currently housed here at the Städel Museum. The work is executed with ink, chalk, pencil, and colored pencil on paper. Editor: My first impression is one of a quiet, bustling pastoral scene, all rendered in these delicate, almost faded grays and browns. The scene feels both idyllic and subtly melancholic; it reminds me of a memory. Curator: Merian was a master of topographical art and this work provides insights into the seasonal activities and social hierarchy in the early 17th century. These 'monthly pictures' often combined elements of landscape, genre scenes, and symbolic representation. You'll notice, up in the left corner, the zodiac symbol for Virgo, associating this image directly with August. Editor: I see people gathered outside of a barn, what appears to be a landowner on horseback, a winding road, and the details certainly speak of labor and leisure intertwined. How was a piece like this consumed or used during the Baroque era? Curator: These detailed drawings, often commissioned by wealthy patrons or publishers, circulated as individual prints, or parts of larger series in illustrated books. They not only provided accurate depictions of landscapes and cityscapes, but also shaped the contemporary view of specific regions and historical events. The imagery certainly reinforced the societal structures of the time, casting a gentle, almost romantic light on aristocratic privilege. Editor: Looking closer, the landscape teems with figures at different social levels engaging in various summer activities. The work does offer a view, albeit potentially idealized, of rural life in that time. Curator: Indeed. But, what seems like a simple depiction of life also tells a larger narrative, about labor, leisure and the stratification of society, all operating under a cosmic order. It is a fascinating glimpse into a world undergoing immense transition as the Thirty Years' War raged. Editor: The interplay of mundane and allegorical is what fascinates me most. We're getting a landscape, daily life, zodiac symbols. It’s a testament to how deeply embedded astrological thinking was during this period. And for me, the muted palette underscores how distant that world is now, while remaining compelling and strangely familiar. Curator: Absolutely, considering this drawing allows us to visualize life from a bygone era. And this unique convergence of social reportage, astrological symbols and the exquisite skill makes the work an object of artistic and historical significance. Editor: Looking at it now, I realize this image invites contemplation about humanity’s connection with nature and also with constructed hierarchies of its societies, echoing sentiments which can speak volumes today.