November: paar uit Oostenrijk 1604 - 1670

Editor: So, here we have "November: paar uit Oostenrijk" by Crispijn van de Passe II, made sometime between 1604 and 1670. It's a print, an engraving, housed at the Rijksmuseum. The couple in their furs give such a stark feeling...what draws your eye when you look at this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, this isn't just any couple cozying up against the cold, is it? I am drawn to the landscape of clouds looming behind them. The artist captured light reflecting the way emotions shift across faces and hearts. Notice how even Cupid looks cold in the upper left corner—a lovely contradiction. And look at how their hands are held... tentative yet firm. Makes me wonder about their story, doesn't it? Editor: Definitely. It feels like a moment frozen in time, loaded with unspoken feelings. But the text at the bottom – what can we gather from that? Curator: Well, that inscription – “Austria frigidor septemque proquinqua trioni Dar bene respiras mense Nouembre viros” – tells us it’s about Austria in November. Roughly, it speaks of the chill winds and how even then, Austria breathes life into its people. The artist suggests perhaps, something flourishes even in winter, both within this landscape, and their relationship. Is that how it strikes you? Editor: That’s fascinating. I initially focused on the somber mood, but you’ve highlighted the suggestion of hope. It really does change the reading of the piece. Curator: Art, like life, contains multitudes! It whispers, it shouts, it confuses and enlightens, all at once. We just need to listen and let it speak. Editor: Thank you! This engraving is much more nuanced than I had originally considered.