November 1766

Johann Esaias Nilson created this print, titled 'November', using etching, sometime in the 18th century. The print, now held at the Rijksmuseum, presents a scene framed within an elaborate decorative border. The composition depicts an interior, where a hunter, rifle in hand, appears to be greeted by two women at a table. This genre scene, common in 18th-century art, provides a window into the social customs of the time. It’s possible this print was intended for a bourgeois audience interested in depictions of everyday life and perhaps served as a calendar illustration, given its title. Looking deeper, one could examine the contemporary literature and social histories to understand the roles of hunting and hospitality within 18th-century society, especially in the area we now know as Germany where Nilson was based. Such research can reveal much about the print's intended meaning and its place within the cultural landscape of its time.