October - Jan van de Velde II

A detailed seventeenth-century etching by Jan van de Velde II depicting the seasonal harvest activities of October, featuring a coastal castle and vineyard workers.

This etching, titled October, is part of a series representing the months of the year by the Dutch artist Jan van de Velde II. The composition captures the seasonal activities associated with the autumn harvest, specifically the production of wine. In the foreground, figures are engaged in the labour of gathering and processing grapes, while pack animals wait nearby to transport the yield. The scene is set against a coastal backdrop, featuring a fortified castle perched upon a rocky outcrop that overlooks a calm body of water. Small boats are moored along the shore, suggesting a connection between the agricultural land and maritime trade routes.

Van de Velde II employs a precise technique, using fine lines to define the textures of the stone, the foliage, and the distant hills. The sky contains a subtle reference to the zodiac, with the scorpion symbol for Scorpio positioned near the top centre, aligning the agricultural calendar with celestial movements. The Latin inscription at the base provides a classical framing for the scene, describing the act of treading grapes and the fermentation process. The work reflects the interest in rural life and topographical detail common in seventeenth-century Dutch printmaking. The balance between the human activity in the foreground and the expansive, atmospheric view of the water and distant mountains demonstrates the artist's skill in managing depth and perspective within a monochromatic medium. This print offers a glimpse into the seasonal rhythms of the period, rendered with the technical clarity characteristic of the Dutch Golden Age.