Autumn 1730

Editor: This is Johann Georg Bergmüller's etching, "Autumn." It's a small print, full of figures and symbols, a lot going on! How would you interpret this allegorical work? Curator: Well, allegories like this often reflected the sociopolitical order. Consider how the female figures, likely representing abundance, are idealized. Who benefits from this "abundance," and who is excluded? Editor: So, even depictions of something seemingly natural like autumn can reinforce social hierarchies? Curator: Absolutely. What appears celebratory may mask underlying power dynamics. What do you make of the scales? Editor: I hadn't considered that. It highlights the balance of power and resources, so it changes how I view the whole composition.