Harvey Miller
C. Grössinger
Humour and Folly in Secular and Profane Prints of Northern Europe (1430-1540)
XIV+227 p., incl. 216 b/w illustrations, 210 x 275 mm, 2002
ISBN: 978-1-872501-09-3
Languages: English
Hardback
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This book highlights the importance of
secular and profane prints for the reconstruction and understanding of
themes popular in the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, and
examines their function as patterns for other arts, and as sources for
moral teaching and entertainment.
This book highlights the importance of
secular and profane prints for the reconstruction and understanding of
themes popular in the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, and
examines their function as patterns for the other arts, and as sources
for moral teaching and entertainment. As successors to the marginal
illuminations of medieval manuscripts these prints represent the
'low' arts, and as such have licence for subversion and comedy.
They are lower both in medium and subject matter than paintings,
concentrating on foolish and sinful behaviour, on world-upside-down
situations and on base human passions, all to be discussed as a mirror
of human folly and depravity. Indeed, some images cross the barriers of
decency, resulting in scatological and grotesque representations. The
medieval Church was much exercised by the sin of lust, and women since
the Fall were seen as temptresses incarnate, represented on prints as
subjugating men, deceiving them and, generally, making fools of them.
Peasants, equally lecherous but stupid are depicted carousing at
Peasant Festivals, rather than working. Other popular themes are of
Wild People, who live in harmony with nature, and protect the
procreation of human families, and outcasts, such as beggars, cripples
and quacks. Prints also illustrate the historical concerns of the
period, such as the Peasants' War in Germany, and the wars in
Italy, represented by images of vain soldiers and death. Overall, the
picture gained from secular and profane prints is one of humanity
abandoning itself to the sins of the flesh and, therefore, folly; real
life is in details only, to serve in the interest of a satirical, yet
convincing, illustration of the world, often with a didactic
aim.
This publication is also distributed by: ISD, Marston