Graphic Worlds of Peter Bruegel the Elder

Renowned for his effervescent and rollicking paintings of Flemish life, Peter Bruegel the Elder also holds a place among the world's finest engraving designers. This collection contains 64 of his engravings plus a woodcut, arranged in two parts. The first depicts the outer world of nature and man, including landscapes, ships and the sea, and memorable portraits of sixteenth-century Flanders citizens, from aristocrats and burghers to villagers and peasants. The second part envisions the inner worlds of imagination, morality, and religion with scenes from the Gospels and Apocrypha. In addition, the book offers cogent and stimulating commentaries by H. Arthur Klein that provide details of Bruegel's life and influences as well as his techniques. Many of these prints served as models for subsequent Bruegel canvases, and each image is accompanied by an essay that places it within its historical context. A unique survey of the best and most magical work of one of history's greatest printmakers, this volume offers a prized addition to the collections of all connoisseurs, especially those interested in the art of engraving.