Herfst 1670 - 1713

Pieter Schenk created this intaglio print called ‘Herfst’ or Autumn. It features a figure, presumably a personification of autumn, in a detailed, allegorical scene. The composition is dominated by a central figure, richly dressed, seated and holding a chalice aloft, drawing the eye upward through the image. Schenk’s use of light and shadow creates depth, emphasizing the texture of the figure’s clothing, the lushness of the grapes overhead, and the solid, geometric blocks in the background. The sharp contrast in shading not only sculpts the forms but also infuses the scene with a dynamic sense of movement and change, echoing the transitional nature of autumn itself. This is further reinforced by the cherubic figure carrying a basket of fruit, representing the harvest's abundance. The print engages with themes of abundance, transition, and the cyclical nature of time, using semiotic codes such as the grapes, the chalice, and the autumnal garb. The aesthetic arrangement suggests a deeper cultural dialogue about the passage of time and the celebration of nature's bounty.