european & american art

Summer, Giuseppe Arcimboldo

During the 1500s, people associated the seasons with stages of human life. Spring stood for youth, and winter conjured up images of old age. Summer shows a man in his prime—a man, that is, composed of the ripest produce the season has to offer. In this painting, the different qualities of each fruit and vegetable add character to the face. A row of peas makes for straight, even teeth, and a cucumber makes for a bumpy-skinned nose.

Spanish Colonial Art