Allegorie van de Zomer 1621 - 1650

Pietro Testa created this Allegory of Summer sometime in the 17th century. During this time, Europe saw religious conflict, political change, and scientific revolution. Testa, working in this environment, merges classical mythology and baroque style. Summer is personified here through a female figure, she is surrounded by symbols of the season’s bounty. While the central figures are idealized, the undercurrent of the print contains darker imagery which may reflect the social anxieties and realities of the 1600’s. The toil of labor is apparent in the lower sections of the print, contrasting with the divine figures above. Consider the interplay of abundance and struggle as you reflect on this artwork. What does it tell us about the relationship between those in power, the laboring class, and the natural world?