This article was originally (partially) a thread on social media,
which is why it is formatted with lots of images and short responses.The text is about the image below that paragraph.
This time we”ll be looking at ‘De boerendans’ (the farmer’s or peasant’s dance) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, from c. 1567.
I love Pieter’s art & of course I love art that depicts an era generally still considered to be bland, dark & horrid, as also being a bit fun.
Adorable, big kid dancing with little kid, I reckon they’re sisters.
By their clothes we can see its cold, their aprons show us they likely do some work in the household.
The big girl has a pretty pouch hanging from her belt, also suggesting she may already some responsibilities and has to carry coins or other little things around for housework.
The little kid has a bell attached to her sleeve, just in case she wonders off… again!
So many details:
The musician looks fab, wearing fancy shorts, very clean white bits here and there, his jacked doesn’t seem to have been simple linen, which means it had to regularly be laundered, he cares about making a good impression.
The man next to him is holding a jug with 4 handles, suggesting that it should be passed around, not held just by him…
He doesn’t look very happy though:
I wonder if he’s looking like that because he’s concentrating on playing or because that drunk is bothering him, probably asking him if he can play “Thunderstruck”… again.
Is that a coin hanging from the musicians cap?
I wonder what it is and why its there, its such a small detail I bet the artist drew it from memory, with other words, it’s something he once saw himself.
The peacock feather looks cool, it makes him look a bit like a party animal, although in the painting it may illustrate vanity & pride, which makes him a sinner:
At the table things are about to get out of hand.
“Leave it Dave, he ain’t worth it”.
The white thing is a butter bell on a little dish, these sometimes had a pin in them to keep the butter from sliding off.
On the left we see bread, on the right bread with butter, in the middle what appears to be a sald dish or something similar:
Grab your cloak love, you’ve pulled:
A man putting liquid into his body and a man doing the exact opposite…
What a mucky bugger:
I bet all these birds have some sort of meaning:
“No, no, I can’t, I have to clean before mum comes over and I haven’t anything to wear!”
“Come on doll, live a little!”
The flag shows that the party is probably a Saint George’s day celebration, which puts the event in April, April’s were still a bit chilly then.
I wonder if the woman is pulling the man into the building or if he is trying to pull her out:
Public art, a picture of Mary & baby Jesus on a tree, a little roof to protect it from the elements, and flowers in a jug hanging under it.
Simple but kind of touching, in a way more precious than building an entire cathedral:
These details just make me so happy.
They drink, jugs break.
They snack, walnut shells get thrown.
One day this carelessly thrown away rubbish is going to excite an archaeologist:
This couple gets all the attention, look at the details in their clothes, such a treasure for historians.
Colours, nice fabrics, a pouch hanging from her belt, she carries the house key:
The man is armed but also carries a fancy spoon with him in a very practical spot:
This couple seems to take the dancing a bit too seriously, you know the type, the ones who go to dancing lessons and want to get everything right and then become the centre of attention showing off.
Come on, have some fun.
Great clothing detail again and his knife is not a weapon, it’s a functional knife, for eating, working, etc:
The jester is enjoying himself but the chap next to him is not amused:
Is he the dad of the girl dancing in front of him?
Does he not approve of the chap she’s with?
In the distance we can see a church and more people dancing, kissing and having fun.
I think I even see some canvas market stalls, imagine all the wonderful things and food they might be selling there.
Gang it looks like we missed out on yet another fun event.
Go on, put on your best clothes, comb your hair, I’ll go get the time machine ready:
The painting perhaps wants us to disapprove of these simple rough folks, drinking, fighting, dancing, flirting, in stead of being serious & pious or something.
But I just see a fun and colourful slice of life that shows that the past wasn’t just work, plague, war, poverty & drab brown & grey rags.
I wonder how many people at the time who saw this painting loudly talked about how bad all these sinful peasants were while secretly wishing they could join the fun:
Wait, hang on, what’s that I read on Wikipedia?
Nicked by Napoleon, returned… and now in VIENNA?!!
Vienna isn’t in the Netherlands!
How come everyone is asking for art to be returned home but the Austrians get to keep OUR painting?
Oi, give it back, or no more stroopwafels for you lot:
If you liked this review you can find more of them here:
Fake History Hunter 