Three tile panels with Autumn, Summer and Spring c. 1760 - 1780

These three tile panels with Autumn, Summer and Spring were made by Johannes Aelmis sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The blue and white tin-glazed earthenware reflects the Dutch Golden Age when the Netherlands dominated global commerce, including the import of Chinese porcelain that inspired this style. Imagine the world Aelmis inhabited, where societal structures dictated strict gender roles. Observe the pastoral scene with its figures who are seemingly free from worldly concerns. The shepherd serenades his love, yet this idyllic image obscures the complex social realities of the time. The tiles represent a longing for an idealized past, a retreat from the rapidly changing urban landscape of the Netherlands. Consider how these panels would have been displayed, perhaps in a wealthy merchant’s home, a subtle display of status and taste. As you contemplate this scene, consider the labor and global exchange that brought these materials and images into being, a reminder of the interconnectedness of art, commerce, and society.