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

Art Historical Context

Jonas Umbach's *November*, created around 1690 or slightly, is a delicate red chalk drawing from a series depicting the "Labors of the Months"—a longstanding European artistic tradition tracing back to medieval manuscripts and tapestries. This South German artist, active in the late Baroque era, specialized in intimate, everyday scenes of peasant life, capturing the rhythms of the seasons with a folkloric charm that bridged rustic realism and refined draftsmanship. The small-scale work (just 3⅜ × 4¾ inches) vividly evokes late autumn through a hunting scene: men on horseback pursue deer with dogs amid scattered houses, blending human activity with the natural world. Rendered in sanguine red chalk—a medium Umbach favored for its warm, flesh-like tones and subtle blending—this drawing showcases his masterful line work and tonal modeling, ideal for quick yet evocative studies that feel alive on the page. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, acquired via the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1917, *November* highlights the cultural importance of seasonal cycles in 17th-century art. These motifs not only illustrated agricultural calendars but also symbolized the harmony between humanity and nature, offering visitors a window into pre-industrial Europe's vibrant rural traditions.

About the Artist

Jonas Umbach · 1624–1693

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