November: houthakken (boogschutter) 1575 - 1613

"November: Woodcutting (Sagittarius)" was etched by Antonio Tempesta around the turn of the 17th century. During this time, the traditional European calendar was punctuated by labor. Here, Tempesta merges the seasonal labors of woodcutting with astrological symbolism. In the foreground, men work to fell and process lumber, while in the upper right, Sagittarius takes aim. Woodcutting was arduous work, usually performed by peasants. Note the class distinctions at play: those who labor on the land, and those who survey from the heavens. The forest provides. Here, trees represent both life and livelihood; notice the dichotomy between clearcutting and conservation. In the context of the little ice age, a period of cooling that affected crop yields, one must consider the importance of firewood to early modern Europeans. As we consider climate change today, this piece reminds us to reflect on our relationship to natural resources.