BRUEGEL · 40th Ed.

The life and times of Pieter Bruegel the Elder (c. 1525-1569) were marked by cultural conflict. He witnessed religious wars, the brutal rule of the Duke of Alba as governor of the Netherlands, and the palpable effects of the Inquisition. To this day, the Flemish artist continues to be surrounded by mystery. We do not know exactly where or when he was born . Although the first scholars of his figure emphasized the vernacular character of both his painting and his graphic work, modern research gives more relevance to the humanistic content of his creations.

After some beginnings as a designer of prints for the publisher Hieronymus Cock , Bruegel produced numerous series of lithographs that were distributed throughout Europe. In them he illustrated vices and virtues together with joyful festivals in the towns and magnificent panoramic landscapes. Over time he turned more and more to painting, carrying out commissions for the cultural elite of Antwerp and Brussels . Instead of idealizing reality, he bravely faced the problems of his time, illustrated the horror of religious wars, and took a critical stand on the institution of the Church. To this end, Bruegel developed his own pictorial language of dissent, introducing innocuous subliminal ideas into everyday scenes in order to avoid repercussions.

This book is based on an XXL monograph, for which TASCHEN conducted a comprehensive photographic study of the artist's work. The result is impeccable reproductions and details that reveal Bruegel's spectacular universe with clarity never seen before.