How Bruegel Invented A New Genre Of Painting

Go to www.squarespac... for 10% off your first purchase.
GET MY BOOK: amzn.to/3ymfQPV
Support The Nerdwriter: / nerdwriter
Subscribe: bit.ly/SubNerdw...
SOURCES
Sullivan, Margaret A. “Bruegel the Elder, Pieter Aertsen, and the Beginnings of Genre.” The Art Bulletin, vol. 93, no. 2, 2011, pp. 127-49. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/s.... Accessed 23 July 2023.
Zagorin, Perez. “Looking for Pieter Bruegel.” Journal of the History of Ideas, vol. 64, no. 1, 2003, pp. 73-96. JSTOR, doi.org/10.230.... Accessed 23 July 2023.
Sullivan, Margaret A. “Bosch, Bruegel, Everyman and the Northern Renaissance.” Oud Holland, vol. 121, no. 2/3, 2008, pp. 117-46. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/s.... Accessed 23 July 2023.
Alpers, Svetlana. “Bruegel’s Festive Peasants.” Simiolus: Netherlands Quarterly for the History of Art, vol. 6, no. 3/4, 1972, pp. 163-76. JSTOR, doi.org/10.230.... Accessed 23 July 2023.
Read Erasmus, "In Praise Of Folly"
www.gutenberg....
MUSIC (via Epidemic Sound)
John Abbot, "In the Wizards Home"
Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen, "With Tenacity"
Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen, "The Guiding Light"
Erasmus Talbot, "The Sanctuary Within"
Watch More Nerdwriter:
Latest Uploads: • Video
Understanding Art: • What The Truman Show T...
Essays About Art: • What The Truman Show T...
Essays About Social Science: • How To Correct Donald ...
Popular Videos: • How Donald Trump Answe...

The Nerdwriter is a series of video essays about art, culture, politics, philosophy and more.

[@TheCanvasArtHistory]

This video was less than 5 minutes and it felt like a journey. Thank you!

[@BiggerR10]

I know right? It feels like a complete history lesson.

[@dtcdragon7164]

Nerdwriter is a true inspiration and I’m glad you’ve taken off from his work. You guys both make fantastic Art History content.

[@halldorberg]

Reminds of the Chinese art "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" which was painted ~450 years earlier. It captures the daily life and bustling activity of people in a prosperous city during the Qingming Festival, which is a traditional Chinese festival that falls around early April. The scroll illustrates the urban life of the time, showcasing various scenes like a bustling marketplace, crowded streets, a bridge over a river, and people engaging in various activities.

[@Jarino507]

Unfortunately when referring to art history most people tend to refer to the western world, even when most of the actual "firsts" were done in different parts of the world.

[@halldorberg]

@@Jarino507 That's true. In this case I didn't mind it so much though, I get what he was expressing in the context of his video. I just thought that if this was the kind of thing that inspires the author and if he wasn't aware of this work, he might be interested to learn about it.

[@secularmonk5176]

@@Jarino507 Discussing "firsts" in parts of the world that don't feed into the European globalizing era are indications of the common intelligence to be found in all human societies ... but they don't really inform the structure of the world we live in today. Sure, the Mayans had a concept of "zero" before Fibonacci imported the Indian/Arab version to Europe ... but did being first "matter"? Many civilizations hoarded innovation in their elite classes, hindering extrapolation ... for some reason, in Europe, the merchant/adventurer class had more access.

[@Jarino507]

@@secularmonk5176 It's more so about the fact several non-white artists/inventors often don't get credit despite being the first ones to do things. Also, since this video is about firsts in art history, I'd say it is relevant? Not dissing the creator of the video in any way, just commenting on the unfortunate aspect of society.

[@MminaMaclang]

I don't believe you've ever made a video that I didn't deem worth my time at the end of it. Another fantastic video essay. I loved every second of it. Thank you again Evan for the stellar work.

[@TheNeeenha]

you might like ladyknighthebrave, she's worth a listen. I think she is amazing

[@mjr_schneider]

Bruegel is one of my favourite artists of all time. I particularly love his style and that of other Early Netherlandish artists because it sits somewhere between the more stylised Gothic art of the Middle Ages and the more naturalistic style of the Baroque era. It gives the scenes of ordinary life he depicts a sense of magic and symbolism that later paintings lack.

[@twokidsmomdad]

one of China's most famous scroll paintings captures ordinary people, and painted over 500 years before Bruegel. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Along_the_River_During_the_Qingming_Festival

[@JasperLaureijs]

This makes me think of Fredrik Marinus Kruseman's painting "Joy in the dead of winter". One of my favorites. Beautiful skies, buildings and landscapes with people having fun on the ice.

[@michaelt7153]

Recently, you featured two pieces from The Detroit Institute of Arts. The Nightmare is on permanent display as well as Bruegel's “The Wedding Dance” in your montage at the end. If you get a chance, pay the museum a visit.

[@PabloAfroSamurai]

Damn, it ended just as it was taking off. Another awesome video, thanks Evan

[@driezzy]

Now I want to buy a print of such paintings. As a Belgian I should appreciate it more, lovely video!

[@LilypadOW]

yea such a wholesome evolution from our area, I think you should! Aquiring art is very worthwhile :)

[@stateoflovebrooke977]

I love your art content! Can you do more about John Sargent, he is also my favorite

[@CreativeSteve69]

Another fun video essay there NerdWriter. It was really well done and thought out. I enjoy these 5-10 minutes of fun essays. Just the right amount to keep me engaged. Keep up the great work.

[@PilgrimVisions]

I'd put a big asterisk on the primary claim of this video. No question that Bruegel is important for the Renaissance tradition of painting and engraving. But one has only to browse the Luttrell Psalter or the Fecamp Psalter or any of a number of late-medieval Books of the Hours (which surely influenced Bruegel) to find non-satirical depictions of common people in labor and leisure. You will find countless more examples if you allow religious scenes, which after all, mainly depict not kings and nobles but peasants and ordinary tradesmen, albeit in elevated circumstances.

[@matieking]

Beeldenstorm translated literally is the Statuestorming, a very literal name for what was happening

[@timotheecaron852]

Parfait format, merci

[@davidsanders1170]

LOVED YOUR BOOK! Also everyday just gets a bit better whenever I have a chance to watch one of your videos!

[@peterbellini6102]

"The Hunters in the Snow" and Caravaggio ;] I see the alignment NW.

[@JORIS1234HOTMAIL]

I walk, live, work in Antwerp, where Breughel once did. Go to see a painting of his from time to time at mayer van den bergh called de dulle griet 😊

the unbridled eurocentrism of this video overshadowed how well put together it was

[@m_i_c_h_a_e_l]

Yeah, it needs a, “. . . In European Art,” needs to be added to the title

[@kevnar]

Wait. Was that somebody playing hockey 400 years ago?

[@chilaquilesdemanny]

as my good friend once said, “no thoughts just vibes”

[@MadDunhill]

"not a phone in sight. just people enjoying the moment."

[@MrHappy299]

hey nerdwriter I have been watching your video since the beginning, I love your work. However I find your exclusion of eastern art and art from other culture other than western hemesphere (especially early eras before 1900s) rather disapointing. I think if you want to tell a full story about art and culture only representing western artist is rather disleading. thank you if you spend the time to read this.

[@mcgrud]

For the algorithm. ✊

[@hussain6469]

Me when im on trial in the Catholic Church in the 1500s : bRo It’S jUsT SaTiRe💀

[@AustinKrommenhoek]

That's it?

[@zeel1748]

I’m really hoping for an Oppenheimer film breakdown from you! The cinematography was too good to miss

[@sportfootball-ch9lz]

اتمنى أن تظيف ترجمه الفيديو صديقي الغالي

[@plica06]

This felt like an incomplete video that was just an excuse to fit in some more book promotion and regular sponsor advertising. Nobody else in the comments wants to say it like it is.

Brilliant as always ❤

[@thesunrising4982]

Been some time!

[@mavigogun]

Your opining "first significant work of art depicting regular people" seems to exclude everywhere that isn't Europe. Epic fail. This cultural myopia is anachronistic, like a lecture from a more chauvinistic era.

[@TerrorTerros]

Interesting, name some paintings relevant to this subject made prior to the 16th century outside of europe.

[@filmorejohnson]

​@@TerrorTerros Caveman paintings on the walls of caves depicting hunting and other regular activities. Ancient Greeks painting on pottery. Woodblock painting in China since 5th century BCE, various artists in Japan for thousands of years just to name a few...

[@TerrorTerros]

@@filmorejohnson Christ, you're going pre-historic 😅. Let's disregard those for a second.. ok? And last time I checked Greece was still very much part of Europe. Rather, I'd like to focus on named pieces of art, not everyday decorated items., like pottery, cutlery, jewelry etc. But: I'd like you name some of these 'woodblock' paintings, to my knowledge most of them depict either: the ocean, landscapes, mythical-creatures or nobility/philosophers. And most of those that don't primarily show any of the above where made (way) after the 16th century. Edit: (Also, not looking to start an argument, just curious, you clearly know more then me)

[@filmorejohnson]

@@Dimitris_Half Fair point about the Greeks, I mistakenly read the question as before 16th century OR outside Europe. I'm not an art historian or anything, but I feel like cave art showing regular humans and their activities being found on every continent but antarctica is evidence enough that Europeans did not invent the concept of depicting their surroundings in art, and their is something fundamentally human about wanting to draw the people and things we interact with. Only a tiny fraction of these ancient works have survived over such a long time, and there is a bias towards works depicting wealthy individuals surviving through the years because they have the money and interest to commission and preserve such works over the years. I think it's lazy to discount art depicting regular people that isn't only from Europe and using the paint on canvas medium.

[@mavigogun]

Rather than impose my value of significance- my esthetic, my understanding of the depiction in context to my apprehension of history - just Google "early Chinese painting", and you'll find plenty work depicting ordinary folks and daily life, and be your own judge, make your own list. Be warned: a good faith effort could be a vocation, as history is deep and the number of works are very, very many.

[@thomaspipermusic]

did other countries in the world make art or only white countries :(

[@Flimmertje]

Idk why dont you make a video on it if you find it so important. He grew up in the West. Obviously, he finds pieces that influenced it way more important and interesting to talk about.

[@thomaspipermusic]

@@Flimmertje I just wish he would be clear that it's European art so that a young person may not be confused and think that it's the only art in the world. (You would be surprised that some one may think that) maybe I'm wrong who knows.

[@KnivesM]

Eat

[@Jared7873]

😋

[@Gangster_God]

My

[@shaunpatryck]

Can you do a video on the positives of Trump

[@mavigogun]

Some things just aren't possible.

[@Gangster_God]

I second this! The media demonizes him too much without paying attention to Hunter’s laptop!

[@mavigogun]

@@Gangster_God Or the qualities of your rectum- yet, you wonder why that is?

[@mavigogun]

@@Gangster_God The Devil is getting a bum rap, eh?

[@nckv]

I love your work, just wish that you would disclaim that you are talking exclusively about european art

[@rowdyrudy3761]

I’d always thought of the Romantic era as being the start of “democratic” art. This was so cool to learn about!

[@carlosimotti3933]

Romanticism was in the first half of the XIX century, it has nothing to do with the Renaissance which started 4 centuries earlier. If anything, it was against humanism and rationalism by the way. Both have nothing to do with "democratizing" anything, whatever that might mean

[@MartijnPennings]

In the Netherlands we have this romantic image of people ice skating from paintings like these. As it happened, late 16th century was the coldest period in western Europe during what's called the "little ice age", a period from roughly 1400-1800 where it was colder than usual in western Europe. I thought that was mildly interesting.

[@christianwgregory]

A Eurocentric view of art history. “Arguably” and “significant” are doing a lot of heavy lifting here. Can it really be argued that prior to 1500, no works of art (music, poetry, painting, literature) depicted the common person.

[@HoorayForJay]

0:27 Worlds first representation of soyface

[@willemvandebeek]

Pieter Bruegel is one of my favourite painters. :)

[@NaomiHoefs]

Thanks for the reminder of our own Dutch history. We take these paintings and painters kind of for granted. But it is really special.

[@chrystianaw8256]

Belgian

[@derPetunientopf]

@@chrystianaw8256 Belgium didnt exist back then. Bruegel predates the modern country Belgium by around 300 years. He was one of the most important artists of the Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painting style. So, yes he is part of the Dutch history. Bruessel is also part of the northern Dutch part of Belgium, so even if he had lived in modern times he would still be part of the Dutch history (well and Flemish too).

[@retro2103]

@@derPetunientopf While it is true that the modern nation state; 'the kingdom of Belgium' was only founded in 1831. Belgium or Belgica used to be the more used latin name for the entire Netherlands before the north elected the term 'Batavia' to differentiate themselves. If you look at old maps of this period, they will call the lands from the Yser to the Wadden islands "Belgium" or "nederland" interchangeably, or the latin name for the Dutch colonies in the Americas: Nieuw Nederland or Nova Belgica. Because at the time the differences weren't as set in stone and pronounced as they are today.

[@WayTooClose]

It seems technological advancements (you mentioned how art reproduction costs lowered) always lead to cultural shifts. What will people in 500 years say about the internet's effect on society and culture?

[@secularmonk5176]

It'll be a hive mind reflecting on its youth ... there won't be "people" 😀

[@JenksAnro]

Arent there loads of medieval paintings depicting ordinary people? Edit: Yes, there are hundreds... Im guessing this video is taking a narrow view on what counts as "significant" art

[@Sunilms619]

It's fascinating how people equate european art history to world art history so easily. Depicting ordinary folks in art could have happened in other civilizations and in different eras.

[@freckleheckler6311]

The reason for that is because painting and drawing has its greatest affinity of quantity and quality to Europeans. It is from western artistic tradition that pervades throughout the world because it’s most admired. The art produced and generally likened by the rest is not derived from east Asia, South Asia and the Middle East but from Europe and it’s extensions.

[@shadbakht]

How the sacred become the profane

[@_MC529]

Why rename your video 3 times and changing the thumbnail 3 times as well? Quite annoying ngl

[@chaindead]

3:08 "Dudes, Nerdwriter1 have just uploaded a video!"

[@TL-qy1op]

Great Video, though one nit, you might want to state that your view is centered on European art.

[@Phanyxx]

It almost looks like people are playing hockey in some of these paintings

[@LilypadOW]

honestly I really regret never having gotten your book, I feel like that would’ve been a more worthwhile purchase than what I’ve done with the money considering how each of your videos blasts open my brain with color, really love what you do and am gonna check in on it :)

[@AlastairjCarruthers]

I do appreciate older art, but there's only so much enjoyment I can really get from religious subjects (I'm not religious) and formal portraiture (which can get repetitive). I sometimes say I prefer modern art for this reason, but really the cutoff point is probably here, earlier, where this video examines.

[@dejanmarkovic3040]

Any chance of making one for Dürer?

[@lamecasuelas2]

And now we're back at that shit

[@lamecasuelas2]

@@Dimitris_Half i know ,but i was not refering to taste though..... More about gatekeeping

[@peaduh9713]

he's back, baby

[@DannySullivanMusic]

Ah the proles

[@giorno4859]

Tl;dr thats when art died and never was good again

[@capuchinosofia4771]

....based opinion

[@imdiyu]

3:41 isn't that painting featured in Tarkovsky's Solaris?

[@A_M_Bobb]

I love your channel, but I'd appreciate a non-Eurocentric POV of art. Art is a global phenomenon that is inherent to the human condition and most people are not European. Yes many non-European art was destroyed or stolen during colonialism (see Operation Legacy) but the records are still there and as an artist myself I'm getting tired of "the history of art started in the 14th century in >insert European country here

[@awatercolourist]

2:26 does anyone know the name and publisher of the book where this page comes from? I’m specifically looking for this book.

[@awatercolourist]

@@reflect_ion Hello! Thanks; I already found it on Internet Archive.

[@mukundgarg2461]

Can you make a video differentiating beautiful, picturesque and sublime?

[@benjaminl429]

@Nerdwriter1 when is your book coming to Audible?

[@aelspecto]

So... the departure from religious depictions in art was actually the consequence of a political movement that exploited the fact that idolatry being a sin in the bible and the fact that northern countries tended to identify themselves as protestants? Can someone fact check me, was idolatry one of the main points in the separation of the England church by Henry the VII or it started with the protestant reformation?

[@ddberes1031]

You should revisit your video on SUCCESSION now that the series is over

[@rashirai3020]

Please post videos regularly. Love from India.

[@ackgeezer9754]

Bruegel is pronounced "Broygel", strange but true.

[@redsparks2025]

Basically the birth of the middle class trying to establish it's own identity.

[@ghadabennasr1453]

Hey nerdwriter, patiently waiting for the Oppenheimer's review

[@MrAmazingAwesomeness]

What about in non-European art? Were there dipictions of common people there?

[@hairyneil]

@2:53 I'm guessing there's some significance to what can be seen in the small mirror but I can quite make it out on my phone

[@brooksy362436]

I always pronounced Bruegel as 'Broy gull', not 'Broo gull'. But I'm not Dutch, so I could be wrong.

[@Matthijsklaassen]

Am Dutch. Can clarify. The last name is still around, but spelled differently than in the 16th century. Now it is spelled as Breugel. However, it is unlikely the pronounciation has changed. The eu sound is as in the french word for fire: feu.

[@callofgears91]

Really interesting, I wonder if they could be considered as sort of “photographies” of old times? As in, those paintings appear to be a moment captured in time

[@Scoots1994]

I knew it was going to be Bruegel from the thumbnail. I love his Blind Leading the Blind.

[@souldivider]

I was locked on Hunters In The Snow in a puzzle store like 15 years ago. Have it on my wall now. Love this painter.

[@wfd87]

Hey, I'm taking an art survey class right now, great timing!

[@EdLrandom]

people in the past sure were ugly though

[@blufudgecrispyrice8528]

Great video but pls list ALL the art you're using.

[@antoinettemiles5741]

Is it weird that I see a line from Brugel to Where's Waldo

[@MarshBrik]

walnut brain enlightenment galileo take

[@FlamraFire]

Did you retitle the video? I liked the old one...

[@lecolintube]

Beautiful, and a sentiment that would continue to shock the art world. One of my favourites here is “The Angelus” by Jean-François Millet - and amazing to see the impact and repercussions it had during its time. Thank you again.

[@comradetaco3003]

Year after year, you have provided us with amazing essays. I am grateful especially this time because I now have 2 new historical figures to explore! Gracias Gracias

[@mattyoungau]

Today I learned that they had ice skates in 1559. That’s crazy!

[@NiamhAllStar21]

…….say Antwerp again…..

[@jakobtoetjorsal4502]

This is ridiculing Bruegel

[@gato3656]

Oo

[@nightryder21]

Have you seen Andor yet?

[@TimBuktu666]

you threw us the Bruegel out

[@tumblingrosesstudio]

Bought your book!!!!!!!!!

[@brugo]

Thank you so much!

[@fonya_thee3026]

Art is everything

[@claudiazg9932]

AAAAAAAY my boi is back

[@ripvanstinkle]

👏👏👏

[@BrianMcInnis87]

0:36 'and'?

[@GarrettFrechette]

Yes, please.

[@CoCreeed]

I just knew him from the Fleet Foxes Album Cover and from Melancholia. But didnt know he was such a revolutionary! Thanks for this video :)

[@171QA]

Neat.

[@speeksasfada]

New

[@guidor7177]

I miss when your videos were longer and not only excerpts from your book. Great material nonetheless.

[@Reinindiereuse]

The death of icarus is easily his best painting! Can you do a "understanding art" video about it?

[@ryodark]

Will your book be available in audiobook format? Sorry if this is a dumb question.

[@TheThinker39]

Beautiful and very interesting. Thanks.