Spring 16th-17th century

Curator: This is "Spring," a print by Raphael Sadeler the Elder, held in the Harvard Art Museums. Immediately, I am struck by how this black and white image creates a sense of busy-ness, the landscape filled with figures and animals. Editor: It's a vibrant, pastoral scene, teeming with the symbols of rebirth and growth – the title "Spring" certainly justifies itself. Look at the figures milking the goats, gathering, and planting. It evokes an idyllic view of life intertwined with the rhythms of nature. Curator: The act of milking goats takes on further significance. Goats have historically been associated with vitality and the life force. In this, Sadeler echoes older artistic conventions with an interest in the cycle of life. Editor: The composition, too, directs our reading. From the domestic labor in the foreground we move to the hunt and the distant landscape with its soaring birds. It pulls me across the field. Curator: Yes, I agree. The entire scene is heavy with promise, a celebration of renewal. Editor: Indeed. Its ordered energy is captivating.