Netherlandish Proverbs

Netherlandish Proverbs

At first glance, you may think the painting simply illustrates the people of the Netherlands. That was what I thought. But as I looked into this painting, Netherlandish Proverbs (1559), painted by Pieter Bruegel the Elder in Staatliche Museen, Berlin (now Gemaldegaerie, Berlin), I learned that every individual, object, and action all have a satirical significance. There is said to be over 100 proverbs illustrated in this paining, in which some are still used in the Netherlands and Dutch.

Some of the proverbs illustrated in the paintings are….

• To bang one’s head against a brick wall.
  Which means to try to achieve the impossible

• The world is turned upside down.
  Which means everything is the opposite of what it should be

• She puts the blue cloak on her husband.
  Which means she deceives him

An interesting fact about Pieter Bruegel the Elder and his paintings is that, though as a Flemish Painter he received support from the royalties of Spain (Charles V and the Hapsburgs,) his paintings are said to reflect the peasants of the time rather than the church or the royalties.

Bruegel’s paintings are most influenced by Humanism and Hieronymous Bosch. Humanism allows him to paint the human nature as it is. Of course, in this case he isn’t exactly illustrating the beauty of human nature, but it’s still spin off of it. With  Bosch’s influence, his paintings are satirical. So with the combination of the two influences, bruegel’s paintings are possible.

The reason why I enjoy this painting so much is probably because I feel like there is so much more meaning to it than other painting I often see. I can make a direct connection, and for a person that has very little interest in painting, the theme is straight forward enough that I can understand the signmificance of the painting. When I mentioned that the painting has more meaning earlier, I was reffering to the fact that instead of the painting illustrating people’s beliefs and faith, it illustrates the people themselves as they were. With this painting we can actually see how people acted back in the day, which it ios not so far from how we act today. I believe everyday actions have much more significance compared to one big event, and because Netherlandish Proverbs is a collection of everyday actions I am more attracted to it and I feel like I can connect to it more.

6 comments September 22, 2009