The Plucking of Ears of Corn on Sabbath Day 1585

Editor: This is Adriaen Collaert’s engraving, "The Plucking of Ears of Corn on Sabbath Day." The scene seems to depict everyday life, but something feels slightly off, or pointed. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's a fascinating commentary on societal rules and religious law. Collaert subtly critiques the rigid interpretation of the Sabbath. He questions the established order by depicting everyday activities as transgressions. Where do you see that tension playing out visually? Editor: Perhaps in the contrast between the figures working and the church in the background? It makes me consider who gets to define what is acceptable. Curator: Precisely! And that tension speaks volumes about the socio-political dynamics of the time. I now wonder how audiences responded to it in its time.