December (one of a series representing the labors of the months) 1690

Jonas Umbach made this tiny red chalk drawing, "December," as part of a series on the months and their labors. It depicts the annual slaughter of livestock, a crucial winter task in early modern Europe. Look closely, and you'll see a flurry of activity: butchering the animal, rendering fat, and neighbors gathering, perhaps to share in the bounty or lend a hand. Umbach, working in Nuremberg, Germany, around 1660, captured not just a practical chore but a social ritual. In a time before refrigeration, this communal slaughter ensured survival through the lean months. Beyond the immediate scene, this image speaks to the social fabric of the time. Note the different roles, perhaps divided by gender or social class. The drawing doesn't shy away from the visceral reality of the task. It offers a glimpse into the world of labor and community in the 17th century. To understand it better, we can consult period cookbooks, agricultural manuals, and even town records to reconstruct this world. Only then we can grasp the full significance of this seemingly simple drawing as a window into a vanished way of life.