De jaargetijden 1873

This print, titled "De jaargetijden," which translates to "The Seasons," was created by De Ruyter & Meijer, employing lithography, a process dependent on the flat surface of the printing stone. The matrix's very qualities—its smoothness and receptivity to grease—enable the transfer of the image. Look closely and you will appreciate the labor involved. The artists meticulously rendered scenes of agricultural labor: tilling soil, harvesting grain, pressing grapes, and winter transport. The seasonal cycle of peasant life is celebrated in the image; the repetitive, physically demanding processes essential for survival are aestheticized. In effect, the print monumentalizes the worker. This elevates craft and manual labor to the realm of art, offering a reminder of the intimate connection between human effort and the objects that define our lives.