Juni 1545 - 1608

Editor: So, this is Pieter van der Borcht the Elder's "Juni," likely from sometime between 1545 and 1608. It’s a pen and ink drawing full of activity - a real snapshot of daily life, almost documentary in a way, but there’s something… symbolic about it, don’t you think? How do you read this work? Curator: Indeed! See how the artist depicts the month of June through the activities of the common people, predominantly sheep shearing. These are more than just figures at work; they echo ancient agricultural rites. Observe the prominent lobster-like figure in the sky – not a random occurrence! Editor: A lobster? I hadn't even noticed it! Is that… Cancer, the zodiac sign? Curator: Precisely! It anchors the work within a very specific time and meaning. Zodiac signs have held great power as symbolic signifiers. It served to tie individuals to the larger cosmic order, reflecting humanity’s desire for connection and understanding, as did careful chronicling of monthly tasks and events. Editor: So, even a seemingly simple scene is filled with multiple layers. But how much of this symbolism would a regular viewer at the time have understood? Curator: I believe they would have readily understood the references. Almanacs and books of hours frequently illustrated monthly tasks with accompanying zodiacal symbols, making this visual language part of common knowledge. These familiar signs served as anchors in the ebb and flow of time, assuring viewers that society’s and their personal world order were predictable and stable. How does recognizing the presence of Cancer reshape your interpretation of the artwork? Editor: I see what you mean, the familiarity probably offered comfort. Now, it makes me wonder how the other months were represented, whether they are similarly encoded with meaning. It shifts the whole thing! Thanks. Curator: A pleasure. It's wonderful how deeply ingrained symbolic communication once was.