Analysis
Pieter Bruegel was an ideal Renaissance man because the artwork he produced exemplified some of the important Renaissance ideals. The ideals his work showed are individualism, classicism, secularism, and realism. Individualism is the belief in the value and worth of each person and the idea of expressing oneself in a unique way. Classicism is the reference to Ancient Greek and Roman art and mythology. Secularism is the interest in subjects and themes not related to religion or the church. Realism is the desire to depict everyday objects in a true-to-life manner using art techniques such as perspective, shading, texture, and accurate proportions. The works that Pieter Bruegel produced that show these Renaissance values are Landscape with the Fall of Icarus, Children’s Games, and Hunters in the Snow.
One painting that Pieter Bruegel did that shows that he is an ideal Renaissance man is Landscape with the Fall of Icarus. This painting, which was created in 1555, displays an everyday scene of farmers hauling, a shepherd holding his staff and tending to his flock, a man herding his cow attached to a plow, and ships sailing along. The painting also depicts the mythological figure of Icarus falling from the sky and into the ocean after his wings melted from getting too close to the sun. However, no one in the painting even realizes Icarus has fallen, and they don’t notice what has happened. This painting shows the Renaissance ideal of secularism because it is non-religious, and it displays everyday life. The painting also shows the Renaissance value of classicism because it was inspired by the fall of Icarus, a character from Greek mythology. The Renaissance ideal of realism is shown in the painting as well, because it has great detail, shading, and the landscape is true-to-life. Individualism is another Renaissance ideal that is displayed in the painting. Pieter Bruegel is famous for depicting everyday scenes and in this painting, the focus is on the details of everyday life in the country; the falling of Icarus into the sea is a minor detail that is barely noticeable. Other artists have painted the fall or flight of Icarus, but they made Icarus the focal point. Pieter Bruegel chose not to do so, representing his individuality. Landscape with the Fall of Icarus is a wonderful example of how Pieter Bruegel showed the major Renaissance values in his work.
Pieter Bruegel’s painting, Children’s Games, shows that he is an ideal Renaissance man. In the painting, children and adults are playing 80 different kinds of games. They play with dolls, perform a mock wedding, and do handstands. Everyone depicted in the painting is happy and carefree as they go about their play. Children’s Games was started in 1159 and finished in 1560. This painting shows the Renaissance ideal of secularism because it is a painting of an everyday scene where children and adults are playing non-religious games. The painting also illustrates the Renaissance value of realism because it shows realistic details from everyday life, and it has accurate proportions. The background to the human activities is a town and landscape that seems realistic and true-to-life. Individualism is shown in this painting as well because Pieter Bruegel is known for depicting scenes from everyday life with extravagant detail; this is his own individual style. Children’s Games is an excellent example of Pieter’s artwork that shows the Renaissance ideals.
The painting Hunters in the Snow by Pieter Bruegel also proves that he is an ideal Renaissance man. Hunters in the Snow depicts a scene of hunters and their dogs coming back from a bad day of hunting. The hunters and dogs are glum and tired; the small dead fox on the back of one of the hunters shows that the results of the hunt were meager, and they will have little food to bring back to their families. The painting, which was created in 1565, shows secularism because its subject is non-religious. It shows the everyday life of adults and children who are going about their usual activities and jobs. Realism is shown in the painting as well because the people and landscape are true-to-life and presented with astounding detail. The artist used shading, texture, perspective, and accurate proportions to achieve realistic beauty throughout the painting. Lastly, the painting displays individualism because in the tradition of Pieter Bruegel’s work, it shows everyday life in remarkable and vivid detail. One example of this is how the artist makes the viewer feel the cold of winter, from the snow on the tree branches to the big coats on the children. Hunters in the Snow is a perfect example of how Bruegel showed Renaissance values in his work.
The Renaissance was a time of great achievement in art. Pieter Bruegel’s work represented the Renaissance ideals of individualism, classicism, secularism, and realism. Through his art, one can see that Pieter Bruegel was the epitome of a Renaissance man.
One painting that Pieter Bruegel did that shows that he is an ideal Renaissance man is Landscape with the Fall of Icarus. This painting, which was created in 1555, displays an everyday scene of farmers hauling, a shepherd holding his staff and tending to his flock, a man herding his cow attached to a plow, and ships sailing along. The painting also depicts the mythological figure of Icarus falling from the sky and into the ocean after his wings melted from getting too close to the sun. However, no one in the painting even realizes Icarus has fallen, and they don’t notice what has happened. This painting shows the Renaissance ideal of secularism because it is non-religious, and it displays everyday life. The painting also shows the Renaissance value of classicism because it was inspired by the fall of Icarus, a character from Greek mythology. The Renaissance ideal of realism is shown in the painting as well, because it has great detail, shading, and the landscape is true-to-life. Individualism is another Renaissance ideal that is displayed in the painting. Pieter Bruegel is famous for depicting everyday scenes and in this painting, the focus is on the details of everyday life in the country; the falling of Icarus into the sea is a minor detail that is barely noticeable. Other artists have painted the fall or flight of Icarus, but they made Icarus the focal point. Pieter Bruegel chose not to do so, representing his individuality. Landscape with the Fall of Icarus is a wonderful example of how Pieter Bruegel showed the major Renaissance values in his work.
Pieter Bruegel’s painting, Children’s Games, shows that he is an ideal Renaissance man. In the painting, children and adults are playing 80 different kinds of games. They play with dolls, perform a mock wedding, and do handstands. Everyone depicted in the painting is happy and carefree as they go about their play. Children’s Games was started in 1159 and finished in 1560. This painting shows the Renaissance ideal of secularism because it is a painting of an everyday scene where children and adults are playing non-religious games. The painting also illustrates the Renaissance value of realism because it shows realistic details from everyday life, and it has accurate proportions. The background to the human activities is a town and landscape that seems realistic and true-to-life. Individualism is shown in this painting as well because Pieter Bruegel is known for depicting scenes from everyday life with extravagant detail; this is his own individual style. Children’s Games is an excellent example of Pieter’s artwork that shows the Renaissance ideals.
The painting Hunters in the Snow by Pieter Bruegel also proves that he is an ideal Renaissance man. Hunters in the Snow depicts a scene of hunters and their dogs coming back from a bad day of hunting. The hunters and dogs are glum and tired; the small dead fox on the back of one of the hunters shows that the results of the hunt were meager, and they will have little food to bring back to their families. The painting, which was created in 1565, shows secularism because its subject is non-religious. It shows the everyday life of adults and children who are going about their usual activities and jobs. Realism is shown in the painting as well because the people and landscape are true-to-life and presented with astounding detail. The artist used shading, texture, perspective, and accurate proportions to achieve realistic beauty throughout the painting. Lastly, the painting displays individualism because in the tradition of Pieter Bruegel’s work, it shows everyday life in remarkable and vivid detail. One example of this is how the artist makes the viewer feel the cold of winter, from the snow on the tree branches to the big coats on the children. Hunters in the Snow is a perfect example of how Bruegel showed Renaissance values in his work.
The Renaissance was a time of great achievement in art. Pieter Bruegel’s work represented the Renaissance ideals of individualism, classicism, secularism, and realism. Through his art, one can see that Pieter Bruegel was the epitome of a Renaissance man.