Hieronymus Bosch was a North-Netherlandish painter (ca. 1450-1516).
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| Self Portrait |
During the Renaissance and Reformation in northern Europe (late 15th century), his work was popular and imitated by many. But as time passed, in the 18th and 19th centuries, Bosch was viewed as absurd and sacrilegious as he was forgotten by the common people. However, Bosch has re-trended into modern aesthetics (Snyder). While sources do not specify, this could have something to do with the rise of Dadaism and the avant-garde movement which popularized satire, surrealism, and nonsense. Bosch’s work would make sense to come back, as you can see.
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“Tondal’s Vision” Oil on panel (ca. 1450-1516)
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*Fun fact, If you cut this piece into 48 squares, each square would have a stable composition with interesting imagery. I found this out very late at night.
Unfortunately, little is known about Bosch and his personal life. He was a skilled artisan and was given commissions for altarpieces (such as "Christ Carrying the Cross"), which fragments have been found. But his beliefs and motivations remain a mystery.
*Something noticeable about "Christ Carrying the Cross" is the direction each person is looking. The commoners in the upper left are looking away from what's happening. |
“Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat” Oil on wood 69.5 × 35 cm
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| “Hell 2” |
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| “Hell” 1505-15 Oil on wood 86.5 × 39.5cm |
All we have are symbols from his preserved works to interpret. Looking at his most famous work, the Garden of Earthly Delight, we see phallic towers, giant fruits bursting with seeds, stagnant water as spawning grounds, and multitudes of humans and other animals. This middle section of his triptych shows procreation, nature, and life. Notice in the far right of the midline of the piece, there’s an owl (which was commonly used for a symbol of “bad times coming”).
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| "The Garden of Earthly Delights” (ca 1495-1505), Oil on wood, 220 × 389 cm |
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“Garden of Earthly Delights" – Left Panel
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The left panel of Bosch’s garden shows what I can only imagine is God with Adam and Eve. This could entail that you could “read” the triptych from left to right in a linear timeline. From the beginning of life on Earth (Adam and Eve), past a period (Golden Age) of fruitfulness, to a future of chaos(?).
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| “Garden of Earthly Delights"-Right Panel |
The spawning water threads through each panel where it freezes in the right. Some see this as a symbol of death or sterility (Snyder).
The imagery of this panel is a good example of what makes Bosch a creative genius. The intricacy of a Where's Waldo page doesn't dilute the quality of each figure's design. There are creatures, scenarios, with combinations I feel, are on par with Salvador Dali's imaginative level. But more impressively, this was made in the time before the Surrealist movement.
The imagery of this panel is a good example of what makes Bosch a creative genius. The intricacy of a Where's Waldo page doesn't dilute the quality of each figure's design. There are creatures, scenarios, with combinations I feel, are on par with Salvador Dali's imaginative level. But more impressively, this was made in the time before the Surrealist movement.
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Right panel detail
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Looking at the background up close, we can see the amazing level of detail and understanding of light. Fires bring out the silhouettes of buildings and illuminate the smoke filled air, hot ash, and people trying to escape. The very background shows clifts which even, then fade out to show more depth.
Bosch was an innovator. While his life is off record and his artistic aim cryptic, his usage of creatures and dark complexity is an aspect I admire. I hope to better understand his creative process and incorporate it into my own work.
Works Cited
Snyder, James. Bosch in Perspective. Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall [1973], 1973. Artists In Perspective.
Images source: https://www.hieronymus-bosch.org/
Images source: https://www.hieronymus-bosch.org/
I really appreciate being walked through some of the interpretations of these pieces, especially considering I've always considered Bosch's work a little to chaotic too really focus closely on.
ReplyDeleteI like how there is so much happening in his paintings, it reminds of a "Where's Waldo" page or iSpy. There's a lot happening, but it feels as though it is all purposefully put in.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I see some of Bosch's works I feel like I'm looking at something catastrophic. I've always been fascinated by Bosch's style as I view it as a more chaotic and dark rendition of a style similar to Salvador Dali.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Bosch's style and subject matter resembles that of Salvador Dali.Both Dali and Bosch create intriguing work with hidden images woven throughout their paintings almost making a game out of it. I really enjoy each artist's works in their own way.
ReplyDeleteShiloh mentioned that she feels like she is looking at something catastrophic when looking at Bosch's works, I can completely relate to that. They are so overwhelmingly full of different scenes and details that for me they bring forth a wild mess of conflicting emotions.
ReplyDeleteI think these painting are terrifying. I read Canterbury tales back in high school, and this work is heavily influenced by that style and the content. The images of hell are the worst because in my mind, I know that the artist's of this time period and even now believe that what they are portraying is real. The grotesque style in compelling and in grains the viewer with emotions that the artist is feeling.
ReplyDeleteHe is a very impressive artist and his take on his conceptions really stand out. I would call him an impressionist for his ideas but his paintings use various amounts of technical skills and talent. Im sure these paintings really scared a lot of people during this time period but, the classical aspects does give each picture a lot of characteristics.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy looking at his paintings even though they are a bit crazy and scary but I enjoy them because of the dense content and detail in them. The first time I saw his paintings, the three panels of the garden of earthly delights and the two panels of Hell, I was in the Museo Nacional Del Prado, Madrid, Spain. I was looking at them for at least twenty minutes and would have been there longer if I wasn't moved along. I agree It is similar to the find waldo aspect but much more graphic and I enjoy it.
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