September and October From The Twelve Months of the Year (Fragment) after 1675

Curator: This tapestry, "September and October From The Twelve Months of the Year," probably dates from after 1675, and it's attributed to Geraert Peemans. It's a wool and silk weaving—imagine the craftsmanship involved. Editor: Oh, it's immediately…sumptuous! I feel like I've walked into an opulent, slightly unreal garden. It’s playful, bordering on chaotic, but in a way that hints at abundance. Curator: Abundance is definitely key here. We’re seeing an allegorical representation of autumn. These tapestries, depicting different months, were often commissioned to celebrate the changing seasons, a bit like a year-round garden party. The use of cherubs, these playful winged figures, actively harvesting fruit, lends that festive air. Editor: Absolutely. Cherubs aren’t just cute—they're carriers of associations. The cherubs in the tapestry might evoke ancient concepts of fertility and celebration as related to particular points in time. What about the architecture in the background? Is there something more to those pillars? Curator: Well, the architecture is classical, acting almost as a proscenium for the scene, creating depth. It’s not simply decorative; it symbolizes order and permanence. But look closer – it's overgrown, softening the rigidity. Everything exists in a harmonious tension between nature and civilization. Editor: Yes, it's a really well conceived contrast! I wonder, though, about this fragment. What happened to the other months? Was it a casualty of time, or were some removed by design? Curator: We don't know for certain, but these large-scale tapestries were sometimes separated to fit specific architectural spaces or for conservation reasons. Regardless, even in this fragment, we can see Peemans’ mastery of texture and composition. The weave itself becomes part of the artwork. Editor: A fragment whispering the grandeur of the whole, if you will. I feel that, considering the detail, the artist made excellent decisions to render something as elaborate as fruits, flowers, and tiny winged figures in wool and silk! Curator: A real feat of skill. It provides an intimate window into a period that deeply appreciated craftsmanship and sought beauty in everyday life, transformed. Editor: To spend all that time weaving something so enchanting and meaningful is inspiring! It encourages me to appreciate the process, as much as the final beauty.