Summer 1620 - 1670

"Summer" is a 17th-century engraving by French artist Grégoire Huret (1606–1670). The print, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a woman in a stylish, wide-brimmed hat, holding a sheaf of wheat and a crescent moon-shaped sickle, symbolizing the harvest. The intricate details of the woman’s clothing and the abundance of wheat convey the theme of summer’s bounty. The composition is characteristic of the Baroque period, with dramatic use of light and shadow, and a focus on the figure’s expressive pose. This artwork exemplifies the artistic trends of the time, particularly the use of allegorical representation and detailed imagery.