Summer 1647

Conrad Meyer created this print, Summer, sometime in the mid-17th century. It offers us a glimpse into how the seasons were understood and visualized in the late Renaissance. In this print, Meyer combines classical allegory with close observation of rural life in Switzerland. The figure of Summer reclines in the foreground, accompanied by a lion—a reference to the zodiac sign Leo—while in the background, peasants harvest crops. This juxtaposition reflects the influence of both classical learning and the emerging scientific interest in the natural world. Prints like these played an important role in disseminating knowledge and shaping cultural values. To understand it better, we might research the cultural importance of seasonal allegories in 17th-century Europe, and the ways in which they reflected changing attitudes toward nature and society.