Autumn: allegorical scene with figures seated on clouds with a bull and ram 1705 - 1762

Johann Georg Bergmüller created this allegorical scene with etching in the late 17th or early 18th century. The figures seated on clouds with a bull and ram represent autumn. This allegorical style of art, common in Europe at the time, used symbolic figures to embody abstract ideas or seasons. Here, the artist blends classical mythology with agricultural symbols, reflecting a worldview rooted in both ancient traditions and the agrarian realities of the time. Made in Germany, the image likely catered to an educated, aristocratic audience familiar with classical imagery and courtly culture. The fine lines and intricate details of the etching speak to the skilled craftsmanship valued by institutions like the art academies that were then gaining prominence. To fully understand the place of an artwork like this in society, we turn to period sources; treatises on art, biographies of artists, and institutional records. These help us understand how art both reflected and shaped the cultural values of its time.