September 1777

This small engraving, "September," by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki, now at the Rijksmuseum, captures a pastoral scene with symbolic undercurrents. Three figures interact around a tree, laden with fruit. One climbs to gather, another reclines casually, and a third stoops to collect what falls. Consider the symbolism of the tree. A motif stretching from the Tree of Knowledge in Eden to the World Tree of Norse mythology. The act of gathering fruit has carried varied meanings through time, from temptation and original sin, to abundance and the harvest. Here, the figures are posed in what seems to be a lighthearted moment, yet the tree and its fruit carry the weight of cultural memory. Note the reclining woman's relaxed posture, reminiscent of classical depictions of leisure, yet tinged with a certain world-weariness. The image creates a sense of cyclical return – a modern interpretation of ancient themes, revealing how deeply embedded archetypes continue to shape our collective psyche.