Winter 1592

This is an etching of Winter, made by Antonio Tempesta around 1600, now held in the Rijksmuseum. The composition is highly structured, divided into a central panel framed by decorative elements. The limited tonal range focuses our attention on the intricate lines defining the forms and textures. Within the central panel, Tempesta depicts an allegorical scene with figures and symbols associated with winter. An old, bearded man sits on a wheeled cart next to a brazier. The stark lines create a sense of cold and barrenness, enhanced by the inclusion of owls and crows – creatures associated with the dark and desolate aspects of winter. The border further reinforces the theme through medallions representing December and February, along with melancholic figures embodying the somber mood of the season. Tempesta employs a semiotic language where each element contributes to the overarching narrative of winter's desolation. Through its formal structure, Tempesta's Winter is not just an aesthetic representation, but a complex cultural statement.