Pieter Bruegel and the Art of Laughter (Ahmanson-Murphy Fine Arts Books)

291 Pages·2006·10.92 MB·English

by  Walter S. Gibson

AHMANSON • MURPHY
FINE ARTS IMPRINT
the ahmanson foundation
has endowed this imprint
to honor the memory of
f r a n k l i n d. m u r p h y
who for half a century
served arts and letters,
beauty and learning, in
equalmeasurebyshaping
with a brilliant devotion
those institutions upon
which they rely.
The publisher gratefully acknowledges the generous
contributions to this book provided by the Samuel H.Kress
Foundation andby the Art Endowment Fund ofthe
University ofCalifornia Press Foundation, which is supported
by a major gift from the Ahmanson Foundation.
pieter bruegel and the art of laughter

pieter bruegel and
the art of laughter
=ã
walter s. gibson
university of california press
berkeley los angeles london
University ofCalifornia Press
Berkeley and Los Angeles, California
University ofCalifornia Press, Ltd.
London, England
© 2006 by The Regents ofthe University ofCalifornia
Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gibson,Walter S.
Pieter Bruegel and the art oflaughter / Walter S.Gibson.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
isbn0-520-24521-0 (cloth : alk.paper)
1. Bruegel, Pieter, ca.1525–1569—Criticism and interpretation.
2. Peasants in art. 3. Wit and humor in art.
4. Laughter—Netherlands—History—16th century.
I. Bruegel, Pieter, ca.1525–1569. II. Title.
nd673.b73g474 2006
759.9492—dc22 2005043050
Manufactured in the United States ofAmerica
15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum require-
ments ofansi/nisoz39.48-1992 (r 1997) (Permanence ofPaper).8
to the memory of my wife
Good friends who come to read this book,
Strip yourselves first ofaªectation;
Do not assume a pained, shocked look,
For it contains no foul infection,
Yet teaches no great perfection,
But lessons in the mirthful art,
The only subject for my heart.
When I see griefconsume and rot
You, mirth’s my theme and tears are not,
For laughter is man’s proper lot.
françois rabelais
contents
=ã
List ofIllustrations / ix
Acknowledgments / xix
prologue
Deciphering Bruegel / 1
chapter 1
The Commodity of Laughter in the Sixteenth Century / 14
chapter 2
Bruegel’s Art of Laughter / 28
chapter 3
A Bankrupt and His Bruegels / 67
chapter 4
Rustic Revels / 77
chapter 5
Making Good Cheer / 106
chapter 6
The Devil’s Nemesis: Griet and Her Sisters / 124
epilogue
Taking Laughter Seriously / 145
Notes / 157
Select Bibliography / 233
Index / 253