The Life of Common Folk

 Is The Peasant Wedding more than just a story? At first glance, the painting appears fictional. As a matter of fact, The Peasant Wedding by Pieter Bruegel the Elder in the late 16th century provides a glimpse of life in the high renaissance. It depicts the realistic, simple and pleasurable life of peasants. The source is credible as Khan Academy is an educational, non-profit organization. The video is also spoken by two respectable doctorates of Art History, Dr. Beth Harris, and Dr. Steven Zucker.

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     The video by Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker in Khan Academy discusses the setting and meaning of the painting.  Pieter Bruegel the Elder, a Flemish Renaissance painter, often called as the peasant painter as most of his works revolved around the genre of peasant life, painted the Peasant Wedding in 1567. The wedding reception takes place in a shed, as huge walls of hay are stored behind. Furthermore, it appears to be a thrashing floor. The wedding feast on the long table is placed in front of the wall of hay. Moreover, The reception in the shed is overcrowded. The feast of the wedding includes porridge and pudding in earthenware bowls. Along with, a lot of bread and beer. In fact, the bowls are placed on a wooden door with iron hinges. Next, the star of the wedding, the bride is seated in front of a green cloth wearing a crown made out of paper. She sits under a crown as well. On the right to the bride, there is a man sitting on a high back chair who is the notary of the wedding, a legal observer of the wedding. There is also a Franciscan, a member of the religious order of St.Francis in conversation with the landowner, the man wearing rich garments. Over at the left of the tray of food, there is a bagpiper looking at the food and a man pouring the drinks. Lastly, in the bottom left, a little boy is dressed well and licking the bowl of pudding. 

    There are various interpretations of this painting in a variety of themes. Historians believe that Bruegel gave an accurate description of the wedding and traditions of the people. On such interpretation, the narrators explain is that the painting depicts, “a scene of everyday life”(Dr. Beth Harris). The painting shows peasants celebrating life, the wedding, and each other's company. On the whole, The painting presents a feeling of a shared community. Furthermore, I think the wedding reception takes place in a barn because they are not rich and the barn is an important part of their lives. Moreover, the tray is a wooden door with an iron hinge. This shows that the peasants had used whatever they could find as a replacement for the most expensive things in life. Nevertheless, people can be seen enjoying the party and their life. The food is also modest, along with beer, made out of wheat which is the major crop cultivated. The bride “sits very modestly and demurely” (Dr. Beth Harris) not part taking in any eating or drinking. This was a tradition followed by the peasants. In addition, I interpret that the green cloth has a symbolism of love and joy which is being blessed to the happy couple. Also, it was a part of the tradition as well to call the landowner. The actions of the little boy and the expression of the bagpiper reveal humanity’s true nature of simpleness. In conclusion,  life was simple and pleasurable for the peasants.

FUTURE RESEARCH QUESTION: What were the religious themes shown through the visual arts of the high renaissance?