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The Seasons, by Wenceslaus Hollar, 1644

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Overview

The Seasons is a 1644 by Wenceslaus Hollar, a Baroque work, depicting Bohemia, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?
Wenceslaus Hollar
When & what style?
1644 · Baroque
Where can I see it?
Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This etching shows four panels, one for each season. Winter is snow-covered trees and bare branches. Spring has blooming flowers and a young deer. Summer shows ripe fruit and a resting man. Fall has a wheat field and a farmer. Hollar made six versions of this set. He etched them around 1643-44. Each season’s panel fits in one sheet. If you like this, check out Wenceslaus Hollar (Bohemian, 1607–1677) next.

The story of this work

Overview

Increments of time, such as the seasons, were one of the most popular subjects for printed sets. Wenceslaus Hollar alone made six different versions. Hollar was a professional printmaker with over 3,000 prints to his credit. Born in Bohemia, he worked in Germany, London, and Antwerp. He came to London in 1636 while in the employ of the Earl of Arundel, an important collector that Hollar met in Germany. Apparently free to pursue independent projects, Hollar designed and etched this series around 1643–44. Here, each season is personified by elegantly clad ladies, appropriately dressed for their…

Read the full account in the museum source.

About the artist

Portrait of Wenceslaus Hollar
Artist

Wenceslaus Hollar

Wenceslaus Hollar (Czech: Václav Hollar (Czech pronunciation: ), German: Wenzel Hollar; 23 July 1607 – 25 March 1677) was a Czech engraver, etcher and painter.

See the richer artist page

More by Wenceslaus Hollar

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