Autumn, from The Four Seasons 1570

Pieter van der Heyden made this print, *Autumn, from The Four Seasons*, sometime in the mid-16th century. It’s made using a process called engraving, in which lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. Note how the medium influences the appearance, with its crisp, precise lines. Van der Heyden really leans into this quality, creating a panoramic scene filled with a multitude of figures and details. In the foreground, we see the harvest; people are slaughtering pigs, collecting produce, and processing the bounty of the season. In the background, this labor continues; people are collecting grapes, pressing wine, and transporting barrels. You can really sense the amount of work involved in the production of food and drink, and the social structures that organize this effort. Through the skilled technique of engraving, Van der Heyden elevates these everyday tasks to an art form, reminding us of the value and importance of labor.