Herfst 1563

Philips Galle's engraving, "Herfst," teems with symbols of autumn's bounty and the zodiac signs from 1503. The central figure, crowned with grape leaves, embodies the season, holding a cornucopia overflowing with fruits. Consider the cornucopia. In ancient Greece, it was the horn of plenty, symbolizing abundance and nourishment. It appears in Roman art, carried by deities like Fortuna and Ceres, ensuring prosperity. Here, the cornucopia reminds us of the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, a theme deeply embedded in human consciousness. The image evokes a sense of primal connection to the earth's rhythms, tapping into our collective memory of harvest festivals and the life-sustaining power of nature. This symbol persists, albeit transformed, in modern Thanksgiving celebrations. The emotional resonance remains potent, connecting us to ancestral rituals of gratitude and the subconscious recognition of nature's life cycle, subtly shifting with cultural and historical context.