De maand maart after 1635

Frederick Bloemaert's "The Month of March," made with etching, captures the essence of rural life and labor division in the 17th-century Netherlands. Here, we observe not just labor, but a hierarchy implicitly captured in the scene: an older man rests, his gaze fixed on a younger man actively tilling the soil. This reflects the social structures of the time, hinting at generational roles and the physical demands placed on the working class. Bloemaert doesn’t shy away from depicting the realities of agricultural work, a theme often romanticized. Moreover, the artwork subtly engages with the viewer's own position. Are we, like the resting figure, observers of labor, or are we called to acknowledge the lives and efforts of those who work the land? It’s a quiet question, posed through the tender depiction of labor and rest, prompting us to consider our place within the larger social fabric.