September 17th century

Editor: This is a 17th-century woodcut, simply titled "September". The artist is anonymous, so we don’t know much about its origins, do we? My first impression is a kind of structured melancholy – the intricate linework and the autumnal imagery. What do you see in this piece that I might be missing? Curator: Structured melancholy – I love that. For me, these prints always whisper tales of lives interwoven with the seasons. It is tempting to wonder if melancholy isn't simply another colour of light, a subtle vibrancy. The labor depicted, the netting, feels like a dance between hope and the stark realities of providing. And tell me, what do you make of the cages peppered through the scene? Editor: Well, the nets and the cages suggest trapping – a sort of controlled confinement within the landscape. Perhaps it reflects the artist's understanding of human dominance over nature? Curator: Precisely. Or even, and perhaps more intriguingly, human ambition attempting to dominate fate itself. I almost see each cage as a captured day, stretching through autumn's gentle decline towards the stark quietude of winter. Imagine, for a moment, the ink drying slowly on the woodblock, each line a deliberate step into that seasonal story. The balance scales right above the village almost certainly represent the Libra sign. Editor: Oh, interesting! So, would these kinds of drawings often be used to mark months in an illustrated calendar, or an almanac of sorts? Curator: Absolutely. These kinds of works brought knowledge of astronomy, agricultural practices, and Christian festivals to literate and illiterate audiences alike. Editor: It is so interesting how much narrative and practicality can be contained within what seems like such a simple scene. It enriches the entire picture and I think I was previously discounting just how multifaceted a work like this can be! Curator: Agreed! It really helps one see that it only seems simple on the surface. Art always gives you what you put into it and this particular one demands time and careful looking, as the closer you examine it the more rewarding and captivating it becomes!