Augustus 1568

Etienne Delaune's "Augustus" (1568) is a small engraving depicting a scene of rural labor during the month of August. Set in an oval frame, the print shows figures harvesting wheat in a field. The detailed depiction of the workers and the scene, along with the winged figure of an angel in the upper portion of the composition, exemplifies the meticulous detail and craftsmanship that characterized Delaune's work. This engraving, now in the Rijksmuseum, is a testament to the artist's mastery of the printmaking medium and his ability to capture the everyday realities of the 16th-century French countryside.