Winter 1563

This engraving, titled 'Winter' was created by Philips Galle in the late 16th century. It presents us with an old man, heavily cloaked against the cold, who embodies the season. Note the fish above the indoor scene to the left of the old man. This is the zodiac symbol for Pisces. In the sky above the bridge, we see Capricorn, a goat. Both are potent symbols of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. But their presence is far from isolated. These zodiacal symbols can be traced back to ancient Babylonian star charts, where constellations were associated with earthly events, influencing art across cultures. Consider how such symbols reappear, adapted and reinterpreted in medieval tapestries and Renaissance frescoes. The cycle of seasons, mirrored in the stars, represents the eternal return, a concept deeply rooted in human consciousness. This image is a testament to our ongoing dialogue with the cosmos, an attempt to map our place in the grand, cyclical order of existence.