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

Art Historical Context

**September**, a delicate red chalk drawing by Austrian artist Jonas Umbach, the essence of late 17th-century rural life around 1690. Part of a series depicting the "labors of the months," intimate work (just 3 3/8 x 4 3/4 inches) shows men and women engaged in seasonal toil amid trees, evoking the grape harvest or autumn fieldwork typical of September. Acquired through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in1917, it resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department. Umbach, a Baroque-era draftsman renowned for his lively figure studies, masterfully employs red chalk—a favored medium for its warm tones and subtle modeling—to convey movement and texture on a small scale. This technique allowed for quick, expressive sketches that feel remarkably alive, bridging workshop preparation and finished art. The "labors of the months" tradition, rooted in medieval calendars and illuminated manuscripts, symbolized the agricultural calendar's rhythm, reflecting cultural ties to nature, faith, and community in pre-industrial Europe. Today, this drawing offers visitors a window into everyday heroism—the quiet dignity of laborers sustaining society. Its modest size invites close inspection, revealing Umbach's keen observation of human form and foliage, making it a gem for appreciating the artistry in the ordinary.

About the Artist

Jonas Umbach · 1624–1693

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