December (one of a series representing the labors of the months)

Art Historical Context

This delicate red chalk drawing by Jonas Umbach, created around 1690, forms part of a series depicting the traditional “labors of the months.” The theme, rooted in medieval calendar cycles, portrays the seasonal rhythms of rural life, with December typically evoking winter preparations such as gathering firewood, tending livestock, or indoor domestic tasks. Umbach’s small-scale study captures these activities through figures of men, women, and animals set against modest houses, offering a glimpse into 17th-century European seasonal customs. Executed in red chalk on paper measuring just 2 7/8 by 4 3/4 inches, the work highlights the medium’s warm tonal range and suitability for quick yet expressive sketches. Such drawings often served as preparatory studies for prints or larger compositions, allowing the artist to explore light, movement, and composition with economical strokes. Now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, the piece reflects the enduring appeal of calendar imagery across centuries, blending practical observation with artistic grace for both private collectors and wider audiences.

About the Artist

Jonas Umbach · 1624–1693

Comment on works: Landscapes; History; Kitchen interiors; Birds