“The Fair on St. George’s Day” is an engraving on paper by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, created approximately between 1557 and 1561 during the Northern Renaissance. This genre painting, which measures 33.6 x 52.4 cm, is part of the collection at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The artwork depicts a lively scene of a fair associated with St. George’s Day. In this bustling composition, numerous figures engage in various activities that were typical of a fair during the Renaissance period. The scene is filled with energy, with people walking, talking, dancing, and involved in physical altercations. In the foreground, you can see people brawling, drinking, and playing games, while in the background, various stalls and tents are set up, likely offering goods for sale or displaying an array of services and entertainments.
The depth of the scene is conveyed through the use of detail, with buildings and structures progressively becoming smaller and less defined towards the horizon. The tree on the right-hand side balances the composition, and the detailed depiction of the villagers provides insight into 16th-century life and culture. Different social interactions and leisure activities are realistically portrayed, which are hallmarks of Bruegel’s empathetic and often humorous portrayal of peasant life.