November 1633 - 1643

Curator: This intriguing piece is entitled "November", and it comes to us from the Dutch artist Denis Boutemie, sometime between 1633 and 1643. Boutemie rendered this intriguing figure using etching techniques. Editor: Wow, he's a wild character! My first impression is... Mischief. Definite mischievous energy emanating from this almost cartoonish creature. He looks like he's about to prank someone, big time! I wonder where he got those amazing wing-hat accessories... Curator: It's fascinating how you key into that feeling! These so-called "monthly costumes" are part of the tradition depicting months or seasons allegorically. Representations of "November" from this period often explore themes of change, uncertainty, even impending doom as winter approaches. In a way, your playful interpretation highlights how complex those allegorical links can be for contemporary audiences. What does this creature *mean* to us now, outside the conventions of the 17th century? Editor: You know, doom is definitely one reading! But he seems to be flaunting the doom, right? Like, "Yeah, winter is coming! So what?" The movement feels buoyant, energetic even... there's a refusal to be morose. I suppose I find myself resisting interpretations that position "the past" only as oppressive and allegorical, because isn't there space here, in Boutemie’s wild lines and weird shapes, for our individual responses, our freedom of feeling? Curator: Absolutely. The printmaking medium itself invites discussion around accessibility and wider distribution of ideas, not to mention satire. It brings up questions of what kind of societal power such an image might possess. After all, November’s associated celebrations, like All Saints’ Day and All Souls' Day, touch on some deep societal fears concerning death, and our relation to it, even today. Editor: And perhaps what he’s telling us, or whispering, is to embrace it! To celebrate the end of things, since ends make room for beautiful beginnings! You can really lose yourself in the lines here, almost get hypnotized by them... so I would suggest to really get close to the work! Let it envelop you! Let November lead you into whatever's next. Curator: Beautifully put. "November" offers fertile ground for historical analysis, personal introspection, and an appreciation for technical mastery. I'm so glad we were able to spend this moment together!