September, from "Album of Rustic Subjects" 1859

This is 'September' from the 'Album of Rustic Subjects,' created by Charles Jacque. The division of labor depicted reminds us of classical calendars, where each month is depicted with human figures performing agricultural tasks appropriate to the season. Here, in three vignettes, we observe sowing, hunting, and harvesting, activities deeply rooted in the cycle of life. Sowing, the act of scattering seeds, links us to ancient fertility rituals, seen in Egyptian art and the cult of Demeter. This contrasts with the hunting scene, where man asserts his dominance over nature—a theme explored by artists like Courbet, questioning our relationship with the wild. The harvest, heavy with fruit, is an age-old symbol of plenty, echoed in countless harvest festivals throughout history. Consider the psychological undercurrent: man’s persistent need to control nature’s bounty, a drama that plays out in the field, but also in our collective memory. We subconsciously seek to dominate and control, yet are reminded of our dependence on natural cycles.