Artwork

Pieter Brueghel de Oude. Nederlandse spreekwoorden Detail: Als 't kalf verdronken is, dempt men de put

Pieter Brueghel de Oude. Nederlandse spreekwoorden Detail: Als 't kalf verdronken is, dempt men de put is an unspecified painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Pieter Brueghel the Elder. It dates from 1559 and is held in the collection of the Catholic University of Leuven.

About this work

Overview

This 1559 oil on panel painting by Pieter Brueghel the Elder depicts a chaotic scene illustrating a Dutch proverb. The work is characterized by its dense, narrative composition.

Subject & Meaning

The painting represents the proverb 'As the calf is drowned, one dams the well,' conveying the idea of taking remedial action after a problem has occurred. The scene is populated by numerous figures engaged in various activities, symbolizing human folly and the futility of belated solutions.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on panel, the work exemplifies the Northern Renaissance style, with its use of chiaroscuro creating a sense of depth and visual tension. The artist's application of this technique contributes to the overall sense of narrative complexity.

History & Provenance

The painting is currently housed at the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin in Germany. Its history includes being documented in glass slides for art historical study between 1839 and 1939 at the Université de Louvain.