€975
THE GRAPE HARVEST, CA. 1820
Pen and brush drawing on parchment, executed by an anonymous, probably German artist, around 1820. Dimensions: 19.5 × 29.5 cm.
In an expansive, hilly landscape, the grape harvest is in full swing. Among the vines, men and women bend over the plants to pick the ripe grapes and gather them in baskets. The full baskets are carried to a cart, where the harvest is loaded for transport. Farther away, another horse-drawn cart makes its way through the vineyard.
Work, however, is not the only thing demanding attention. In the foreground, the harvest has turned into a small celebration. A seated musician plays his flute while a man and woman dance before him. Labour and leisure blend effortlessly here, while other pickers quietly continue their work.
The artist has conceived the scene as a pastoral evocation of country life. The tall trees on the left, the rocky outcrop on the right, and the gently receding landscape in the distance form an idyllic setting for the activity in the vineyard. The delicate brushwork and subtle tonal gradations give the scene a warm, almost summery atmosphere.
Traditionally, the grape harvest was not only a period of hard work, but also a festive moment in the agricultural year. Once the grapes had been brought in, the most important work could begin: pressing the fruit and making the new wine. In this drawing, the celebrations seem to have started a little early…
Price: Euro 975,- (incl. frame)
