The artwork titled “Marginal illustration for Erasmus ‘In Praise of Folly'” was created by Hans Holbein the Younger in 1515 in Germany. It belongs to the Northern Renaissance art movement and is classified as a miniature. This distinguished piece is housed in the Kunstmuseum Basel, located in Basel, Switzerland.
The artwork features an intricately detailed marginal illustration rendered by Holbein, serving as a visual commentary for Erasmus’s satirical text, “In Praise of Folly.” In the depicted scene, the illustration portrays a figure holding a mask in a gesture possibly indicating reflection or folly, aptly complementing the themes explored in Erasmus’s work. The meticulous lines and shading exemplify Holbein’s mastery in miniature artwork. The surrounding Latin text is visually integrated with the illustration, enhancing the viewer’s engagement both with the text and accompanying art.
