Personificatie van de herfst (autumnus) 1588 - 1602

Curator: At first glance, there is an unexpected tenderness in this rendering, especially given its graphic medium. Editor: I agree! And tenderness for a somewhat peculiar creature... it makes one wonder what's in the goblet the satyr yearns for? This engraving, crafted between 1588 and 1602 by Jacob Matham, is entitled "Personification of Autumn (Autumnus)." Matham masterfully employed engraving to present the classical allegory of the season. The location here in the Rijksmuseum provides wonderful insight into the work. Curator: Looking closer at the imagery around Autumnus, I notice astrological signs bordering the main allegorical scene—these are incredibly revealing! They connect to harvesting cycles but equally reflect deeper currents in cultural memory. The landscape fading in the background suggests, quite beautifully, that autumn isn't only a season, but it evokes a liminal space between vitality and dormancy. Editor: And let’s consider how that liminality plays out, not just for seasonal harvest and abundance, but also in a societal context. Matham, having produced this engraving around the cusp of the 17th Century in the Dutch Republic, reflects a socio-political climate in relative turmoil. I feel as though it evokes not only material abundance but also suggests subtle uncertainty... the precarious balance of societal harvest, so to speak. Curator: A fascinating idea. From my perspective, though, it’s that reaching satyr, driven by desire that feels inherently timeless and perhaps insatiable, reaching for something elusive. The artist successfully makes you ponder the very essence of seasonal and cyclical transformation. The satyr reminds us of an inherent desire of nature, as the embodiment of earthly instinct, further enhanced by being partly of human form. Editor: Certainly. Matham creates something special by prompting one to examine those cultural cycles of abundance alongside this very visceral image of human, and animal, nature. It's a lovely and challenging testament to human awareness.