Herfst 1708 - 1727

Johann Christoph Steinberger created this print called "Herfst" or "Autumn" sometime between 1690 and 1727 using etching and engraving. The piece embodies the intersection of art and societal position during the late Baroque period. Steinberger, an artist working in Augsburg, Germany, operated within a hierarchical society which had a profound effect on his artistic choices. The print depicts laborers harvesting grapes, a scene framed by decorative motifs, highlighting a focus on pastoral life and the aristocratic appreciation for the natural world. However, it also reflects the realities of class and labor, representing the working class through a decorative and somewhat romanticized lens. The image speaks to the era’s fascination with allegories of the seasons, a popular theme among the elite who often commissioned such works. "Herfst" embodies a tension between the romanticization of labor and the societal realities of class. It prompts us to consider whose stories are told and how they are framed within historical contexts.