Twee panelen met representaties van maart en april in het stadhuis te Nancy before 1896

These panels, representing March and April, were made for the city hall of Nancy by an anonymous artist. Note how the artist represents March as a man sowing seeds. This act of sowing is deeply symbolic, echoing ancient agrarian rituals celebrating fertility and the promise of new life. We see similar themes in works like Pieter Bruegel’s “The Harvesters”, where agricultural labor is elevated, reflecting a profound connection between humanity and the natural world. Then, observe the rooster representing April, a symbol of dawn and awakening. This image carries echoes of vigilance and the heralding of new beginnings, reminiscent of its appearance on weather vanes atop medieval churches, serving as a spiritual and practical guide. These motifs, seemingly simple, are loaded with cultural memory, resurfacing across centuries, reminding us of our enduring relationship with the cycles of nature and the rhythms of life.