Folly Beyond Words. Bruegel and Proverbs in Art

What happens when you depict words and phrases literally? Today we recognise this technique from cartoons and memes, but the phenomenon is much older. Pieter Bruegel, in particular, became famous for his depictions of idioms and proverbs. They are often funny and absurd, yet at the same time enigmatic and sometimes even a touch provocative. They rank among Bruegel’s most beloved and influential works.