An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
The Pleasures of the Seasons: Winterc. 1730
Artist: Johann Georg Platzer
Austrian, 1704 - 1760
Allegory. Rococo.
15 x 21 1/2 in. (38.1 x 54.61 cm) (panel)
19 3/4 x 26 1/2 in. (50.17 x 67.31 cm) (outer frame)
Oil on copper
Painting
Austria
18th century
Gift of Mrs. Walter H. Ude
In the quiet hush of winter’s grip, outside the world lay still and biting, as if nature itself were holding its breath. Yet, within the walls of a dimly lit room, life pulsed with a vibrant energy, igniting a warmth that seemed to dance in defiance of the frosty air. The soft glow of the fireplace painted flickering shadows across the faces of those gathered, where laughter mingled with the clinking of glasses, and whispers of bold flirtation filled the spaces between.
At the heart of this spirited gathering, two young women glided gracefully around an older man, their laughter like music, sweet and alluring. With wine flowing like a river of temptation, they wrapped him in their youthful charm, their fingers dancing lightly over his weathered hands, coaxing forth a soft chuckle from his lips.
Meanwhile, at a table where cards were laid out like the fortunes of fate, two young men huddled close to an unsuspecting old woman. In the dim light, a game of cunning unfolded. One young man feigned a helpful demeanor, his smile bright as he pulled a shiny mirror from his pocket, carelessly reflecting the very cards that would seal her fate against the sly grin of his accomplice. The air thickened with the tension of deceit, while the old woman remained blissfully unaware, her trust laid bare like an open book.
This scene was layered with a rich tapestry of contrasts—youth swirling about the room, brushing against the heavy weight of old age. Honesty, it seemed, had taken a backseat to clever trickery, and within this delicate dance was the relentless march of time that moved inexorably on.
Casting a solemn gaze over the revelry, an ancestral portrait of a woman dressed in stately black hung upon the wall, a silent sentinel watching over the frivolity below. Her oval frame contained not just her likeness but the weight of morality, an echo of values long forgotten. As she looked down, her expression held a stark contrast to the folly that played out beneath her watchful eyes. How could they not see? The foolishness of the old man, lost in youthful allure, and the old woman, blinded by misplaced trust, stood in blatant defiance of the tenets she represented.
In that room, time twisted and coiled, weaving a complex narrative of human existence—where joy danced hand-in-hand with despair, and where the choices of the young echoed the lessons of the old. In the shadows of that night, a story unfolded, rich in its simplicity, yet profound in its implications, leaving one to ponder the delicate balance between truth and deception, between the fleeting nature of youth and the wisdom that age should surely bring.
About the artist
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