Netherlandish Proverbs by  Pieter Bruegel the Elder 1559 oil on oak. Museum Island -Berlin

So what’s so terrific about this piece?

Well, there is just so much going on, it is the sort of painting you could look at for hours (days, months, years?) and still keep noticing little things.

Each person in the painting is acting out a well known Dutch proverb (of course some are just as valid in english). I especially enjoy the life given to each face from the bemused to the gormless.

There are several websites which will point out each proverb in the painting, for an overview of the piece see the Wikipedia page.

Did you know-Pieter Brueghel the Younger made many copies of his fathers painting, sometimes changing the shown proverbs.

Can you spot- Man banging his head against a brick wall? or The blind leading the blind?

This painting was featured in “The Art Book” and  I still remember the shock I had when I first saw it.

This painting is truly haunting, I am always drawn towards the eyes. There is a sense of absolute grief captured in this piece.

To be honest, I’ve found Picasso to be hard work, lots of his work seems nonsensical to me but this piece really stands out. Just typing this I can feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.

 The other thing I like about this piece is how it is so dark at the bottom of the painting so your gaze is immediatley brought to the top of the painting and into those haunting eyes.

When people talk about pieces of art touching them in a primeval way, I guess this is what they mean…FANTASTIC!

For the story behind this painting I recommend the Wikipedia page for “THE WEEPING WOMAN”. Those of you living in the U.K., remember, this painting is hanging in the Tate.

So, i want to talk about art…..yes, ART (painting and shit..you know!).

I’ve  decided I have lived in ignorance long enough. I’m tired of feeling stupid and I want to improve myself. I have started to look at major artworks and reading art critc books and websites and I have begun to draw my own conclusions.

The following pages state (in my own words) how major pieces of art have affected me.