September: wijnoogst (weegschaal) 1599

Antonio Tempesta's "September: wijnoogst (weegschaal)," a 1599 etching, depicts the labor-intensive grape harvest. The scene unfolds in a bustling vineyard, with numerous figures picking grapes, carrying baskets, and pressing the fruit into barrels. The central motif, a large oak tree with a scale hanging in the branches, represents the Libra constellation and symbolizes the balance of nature. Tempesta's detailed depiction of the harvest process is a testament to the importance of agriculture in 16th-century life. This work, now held by the Rijksmuseum, is a beautiful example of "The Twelve Months" series, a popular genre that captured the rhythms of the seasons through a range of artistic mediums.