September 1701

Curator: Karl Gustav von Amling’s “September” presents a detailed vision of autumnal life split into two distinct, yet connected, scenes. Editor: It strikes me as a study in contrasts—the left side feels like a boisterous outdoor market, while the right seems more like a quiet, pastoral return home. Curator: The juxtaposition is deliberate. The left highlights masculine labor, with men driving cattle and carrying goods, alluding to harvest abundance and earthly pursuits. Editor: And the right emphasizes a gentler aspect, perhaps female stewardship and the domestic sphere, walking with goats, geese, and dogs. The city in the background ties them together. Curator: Exactly. The symbols reflect September's role as a transitional month. We see nature’s bounty and the consolidation of resources preparing for winter. Editor: It's all about the visual rhythm—the busy left mirroring the steady pace on the right. It feels like the artist is asking us to consider two sides of a single coin. Curator: Yes, and together the images create a broader sense of September's cultural symbolism of harvest and gathering. Editor: It’s definitely a rich tapestry of life in a single month, beautifully balanced.