Lente en zomer 1768 - 1771

Editor: This is "Lente en Zomer", or "Spring and Summer" in English, an engraving by Jean Charles Delafosse dating from around 1768 to 1771. It's at the Rijksmuseum now. It definitely has that ornate Baroque feel to it. What jumps out at you when you see it? Curator: Oh, it’s so much more than just Baroque; it's a delicious architectural fantasy, isn't it? The composition feels almost like a stage set. Those dolphins spouting water... it's theatrical! But I am also struck by the artist’s desire to categorize the seasons...Spring and Summer have a very tangible feel! What does that suggest to you? Editor: Hmm, tangible? Well, seeing all the agricultural tools and overflowing produce kind of emphasizes the *bounty* of those seasons, doesn’t it? Curator: Precisely. Delafosse gives form to abundance, capturing the essence of the warmer seasons as periods not just of visual beauty but agricultural fruition. It makes me ponder our human desire to arrange and categorize nature… a slightly pompous and beautiful act, like attempting to hold water. Editor: Yeah, I see what you mean. I’m also realizing that the architecture here does a lot to highlight the fruits of each season. Curator: The architecture is crucial, providing a structured base that allows for this abundance to unfold. Delafosse presents a beautiful tension: a controlled structure overflowing with uncontrolled growth. Where do we see that kind of tension elsewhere? I feel it sometimes between myself, my canvas, and an interesting model.... Editor: It really does make you think about the artifice involved in even simple images. Thanks, I didn't look that deeply at this image at first. Curator: My pleasure, these dialogues are what makes me glad I looked deeply the first time! Keep those questions bubbling!