A fool is also strolling through the centre of the painting
The Fight between Carnival and Lent (1559), illuminating the way of an adult couple with his
burning torch, although it is daylight - an indication of
the "topsy-turvy" state of the world, topsy-turvy perhaps
because Catholics, depicted as skinny Lent, and Protestants,
suspected of being pleasure-hungry gluttons, are vigorously
feuding with each other. Bruegel has surrounded them with a
wealth of traditional scenes: children at play, cripples
begging, fish-sellers, churchgoers with their stools, people
dressed up for processions.
The Fight between Carnival and Lent 1559
The fat Lord
of the Carnival astride the barrel is intended to
represent the Protestants, the melancholy, lean figure
with a beehive on his head the Catholics. Bruegel is
caricaturing both equally harshly. In the middle of the
picture, we again see a fool leading two people; he has lit
his torch, even though it is still day -symptomatic of the
topsy-turvy world.
The Fight between Carnival and Lent (detail) 1559
The Fight between Carnival and Lent (detail) 1559
The Fight between Carnival and Lent (detail) 1559
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