Herfst 1581 - 1656

Nicolaes de Bruyn created this small etching called 'Herfst', or Autumn, around 1600. At first glance, the composition seems chaotic, but we soon see that the artist has meticulously arranged the scene to contrast different activities and spaces. The left side is open, dominated by horizontal lines of barrels and figures engaged in wine-making, leading the eye towards a distant landscape. In contrast, the right side is crowded and enclosed, with the vertical lines of the building and the dynamic smoke creating a sense of compression. The figures here are bustling around a fireplace and preparing food, drawing the viewer into an intimate domestic sphere. De Bruyn uses the contrast between open and closed spaces, and horizontal and vertical lines, to reflect the season of Autumn. He has explored the transition from the outdoor harvest to indoor preparations for winter. This work invites us to consider how formal elements can structure our understanding of time and space and also how our relationship with the natural world changes with each season.