Oktober: druivenoogst 1736 - 1775

Jan Caspar Philips created this print titled 'Oktober: druivenoogst' using etching. As part of a series of occupational prints, it captures a scene from the autumnal grape harvest and wine-making. This image offers a glimpse into the labor involved in wine production in the 18th century Netherlands, where wine production was a thriving industry. While seemingly a simple depiction of labor, it subtly reflects the class dynamics of the time. We see workers engaged in the physical demands of pressing grapes, a process that was crucial yet often overlooked. The labor is romanticized, while it ignores the more difficult truths about it, such as the working conditions and the economic disparities between landowners and laborers. The text below the image adds a layer of emotional complexity, suggesting the enjoyment of wine in the face of hardship. It’s a reminder that even in labor, there can be moments of pleasure and defiance. The final line of the poem "En me mocquant de ma Catin," which translates to "And mocking my Catin," introduces an ambiguity, and a flippant rejection of women.