Envy (c.1556 – c.1560) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Envy - Pieter Bruegel the Elder - c.1556 - c.1560

Artwork Information

TitleEnvy
ArtistPieter Bruegel the Elder
Datec.1556 - c.1560
Mediumengraving,paper
Art MovementNorthern Renaissance

About Envy

The artwork “Envy,” created by Pieter Bruegel the Elder circa 1556-1560, is an engraving on paper that belongs to the Northern Renaissance art movement. It is part of the series “The Vices and the Virtues” and is classified as a religious painting. The profound and intricate composition invites the viewer to reflect on the moral and symbolic themes represented.

In the artwork, a myriad of figures and creatures are depicted in a chaotic and somewhat grotesque tableau. The central figure, labeled as “Invidia” (Latin for Envy), is portrayed with an agonized expression, symbolizing the destructive nature of envy. Strange and distorted creatures surround her, enhancing the eerie atmosphere. In the background, various activities and interactions among humans and animals unfold, representing the wide-reaching impact of this vice. The visual elements, including the bizarre architecture, surreal landscape, and Bruegel’s meticulous attention to detail, all contribute to the narrative’s complexity and depth, illustrating the moral decay associated with envy.

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