Events

Pieter Bruegel the Elder was one of the major figures of the Renaissance. His genre scenes were a great source of evidence regarding both the physical and social aspects of 16th century life in the Netherlands. From his paintings we came to understand more about village life of that time and about the peasants who inhabited them. As such, Bruegel came to be known as ‘Peasant Bruegel.’ Most scholars also agree that Bruegel  intended his paintings to have a moral message rather than simply be an entertaining portrayal of peasant life. In this docent-led talk we’ll examine several of his best-known ‘peasant paintings,’ delving into what it was Bruegel may have been telling us.