Juni: schapen scheren (kreeft) 1599

Antonio Tempesta made this engraving, "Juni: schapen scheren (kreeft)", in the late 16th or early 17th century. It shows a pastoral scene of life in the month of June. Tempesta was working in Italy at a time when printmaking was becoming a major industry. Prints had a public role as disseminators of imagery: they spread new styles and stories to a wide audience. This image draws on older traditions of calendar prints, which often showed the labors associated with each month. But Tempesta’s image is more than just a record of agricultural work. The figures in the foreground are fashionably dressed and seem to be enjoying a leisurely picnic. The contrast between their lifestyle and the hard work of the peasants creates a striking commentary on the social structure of the time. To understand the image better, we might look to literature or poetry that describes rural life, as well as economic records that show patterns of land ownership. Only through interdisciplinary research can we grasp the full picture.