The Folly of the World (for Hieronymus)

“About suffering they were never wrong,
The Old Masters: how well they understood
Its human position; how it takes place
While someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along”
- Musée des Beaux Arts by W. H. Auden

The Folly of the World (more popularly known as Netherlandish Proverbs) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder depicts literal interpretations of a breadth of Dutch proverbs. Much of the proverbs focus on jealousy, foolishness, or deception. This isn’t just an inventory of expression but is part a stab at the absurdity of human behaviours.

This is a worldscape turned upside down. It’s a world of panic, bargaining desperation in the face of uncertainty. It is a world lacking in even the weakest droplet of solidarity.

For Hieronymus

This strange worldscape is a hexcrawl for Hieronymus by Laurie O'Connel, built on the painting Netherlandish Provers by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. 

The Topsy Turvy World presents Collapse,  Absurdity,  Jealousy,  Scheming, and Ignorance.