The Wine Cellar. An Allegory of Winter 

Gerrit Dou painted “The Wine Cellar: An Allegory of Winter” in the Netherlands during the Dutch Golden Age. During this period, the Netherlands experienced unprecedented economic and cultural growth. Dou’s choice to represent winter through an interior scene is telling. The wine cellar is illuminated by a single candle which is casting a warm glow on the figures. A woman in a red dress fills a pitcher with wine, assisted by a man. This intimate scene contrasts with the outside, where winter often represented hardship, especially for the poor. Winter becomes a symbol of domesticity, warmth, and perhaps even indulgence. The careful attention to detail, especially in the textures of the clothing and the metal of the pitchers, speaks to Dou's meticulous style. This piece is a testament to the comforts that wealth could afford during the harsh winters of the 17th century, while the dark corners remind us of the world outside.