December, from the series The Months 1555 - 1618

Curator: Let’s discuss this evocative print, "December, from the series The Months." Created between 1555 and 1618 by Adriaen Collaert, this etching, engraving, and drawing offers a glimpse into winter life during the Northern Renaissance. Editor: Brrrr, even just looking at it I feel a chill! There's a definite sense of bustling activity, but also…inevitability, doesn't it feel that way to you? Like everyone is hurrying to prepare before something big and… perhaps a bit grim arrives. Curator: The bleakness of winter, undoubtedly. It represents a period when survival depends on community effort. Consider the figures slaughtering the pig—a necessary act for sustenance, deeply tied to social and economic survival in this agrarian society. The backdrop, too, presents a stark socio-political landscape. Editor: Right! The backdrop...It reminds me of a Dutch dollhouse or one of those little detailed miniature train sets - that tower overlooking the town seems like something out of a fairytale. And notice the Capricorn symbol floating above...a little astrological wink at the month itself. But yes, that cozy fairytale backdrop just heightens the immediate stark reality, that juxtaposition of plenty in the little scenes contrasted with scarcity overall.. Curator: Indeed, that interplay of social strata is always simmering beneath the surface. This print invites reflection on class dynamics and labor division during a very specific time in the Netherlands. How those factors shaped cultural practices. Who had access to resources, and how such access or the lack of access impacts identity. It subtly explores themes of vulnerability and power, revealing deeper connections to both natural cycles and societal structures. Editor: I love how much narrative he manages to pack into a small space. Every little vignette feels like it's part of some grand play or hidden folktale. The details pull you in so many directions. Makes you wonder about all the backstories, the struggles… it’s all there if you just look. Curator: Absolutely. This work reflects a nuanced dialogue on resilience and resourcefulness amidst challenging times, but more broadly encourages discussion around how we interpret the complex layers embedded in seemingly simple historical scenes. It forces you to examine your role and theirs. Editor: To me, it's about how moments of joy, labor, life, and death – the circle of it all, really – just keep swirling around us, no matter what month or age we find ourselves in. Very cool indeed!