The artwork titled “Calendar: June (Haymaking)” is an illustration crafted on vellum by the Limbourg brothers in the year 1416. This exquisite piece belongs to the art movement known as International Gothic and is part of the renowned series “Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry.” It is currently housed in the Musée Condé in Chantilly, France.
The artwork exemplifies the harmonious blend of intricate detail characteristic of the International Gothic style. In this charming scene, various vignettes of daily life unfold under a rich, luminous sky. The upper portion of the artwork is adorned with a celestial calendar, depicting astrological symbols and the passage of time, against a vivid blue backdrop filled with golden stars. Below, the depiction of haymaking provides a glimpse into rural labor during the month of June. At the forefront, two women diligently gather hay with their rakes, rendered in elegant garments of blue and white. In the background, three men, dressed in simple tunics, engage in the physical act of scything the fields, working in unison. The pastoral scene is set against the majestic architecture of a castle and chapel, symbolizing the juxtaposition of daily toil and noble life of the era. The attention to detail and the vibrant use of color convey a serene yet industrious atmosphere, capturing the essence of medieval life with a delicate, almost ethereal quality.
