Autumn

Art Historical Context

"Autumn," a delicate 17th-century engraving French artists Gilles Rousselet, Gréire Huret, and Pierre Mariette, captures bountiful spirit of the harvest season. 11 3/4 × 8 1/8 inches, this print from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Drawings and Prints collection evokes the lively traditions of rural France during the Baroque era. Engravings like this one were masterful intaglio techniques, where intricate lines incised into metal plates allowed for rich tonal depth and precise details, making art accessible beyond original paintings. The scene bursts with seasonal symbolism, featuring women amid barrels and wine, likely celebrating the grape harvest—a nod to Bacchic revelry and abundance. Such depictions were popular in 17th-century Europe, blending everyday labor with allegorical joy, and reflect the period's fascination with the cycles of nature and human endeavor. Acquired through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1953, this print highlights the collaborative genius of its creators, who bridged painting and printmaking to share vivid vignettes of life. A charming window into Golden Age festivities, it invites visitors to savor the timeless pleasures of autumn's vintage.

About the Artist

Gilles Rousselet|Grégoire Huret|Pierre Mariette (French|French|Italian) · 1614 |1614 |1575 –1686 |1686 |1642

French, Paris 1614–1686 Paris|French, Paris 1614–1686 Paris|Italian, Bologna 1575–1642 Bologna