Reproductie van Herfst, een prent van de druivenpluk, door Karel van Mallery naar ontwerp van Jan van der Straet before 1881

This print of the grape harvest, designed by Jan van der Straet and engraved by Karel van Mallery, encapsulates the essence of autumn through the age-old symbol of the vine. The act of grape harvesting and wine-making, deeply rooted in classical antiquity, evokes images of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, ecstasy, and fertility. Here, the figures engaged in the harvest are not merely laborers; they are participants in a ritual that bridges the gap between the human and the divine. Consider the twisting, laden vines – a motif that recurs across centuries, from the Dionysian processions of ancient Greece to the medieval tapestries celebrating the cycle of life. Even the posture of the grape-pickers echoes poses found in classical depictions of maenads, the female followers of Dionysus, suggesting a continuous, if subconscious, connection to primal, ecstatic rites. The act of gathering and pressing grapes carries a psychological weight too, symbolizing abundance and the transformation of nature's bounty into something that nourishes both body and soul. A visual language that transcends time, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level.