“The corpse in the cart has been blotted out with brown paint;”

November 27, 2018 2:09 PM

Peeling Back the Paint to Discover Bruegel’s Secrets [Kunst Historisches Museum Wien] “New imaging technology, created by a project known as “Inside Bruegel” offers some insight into these questions, by allowing us to pull the painting’s layers apart. The project was developed along with the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, for “Bruegel” a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition, featuring 87 of the painter’s works, and which runs through Jan. 13, 2019. “It’s a huge advancement if you want to look at Bruegel,” said Ron Spronk, a professor of art history at Queen’s University in Canada, and one of four curators of the exhibition. “You can actually see the creative process. You can follow the artist in how he makes decisions.”” [via: The New York Times]
posted by Fizz (6 comments total)

If I was a modern painter and I thought there was a chance of my paintings getting the same analysis, i'd paint in a hand making an obscene gesture and then paint it over.
Or even better - put in some code or other esoteric signs and then paint them over. Just to mess with future analysts.
posted by King Sky Prawn at 2:36 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]

Rudy Rucker probably has thoughts about this.
posted by ovvl at 4:13 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]

Or even better - put in some code or other esoteric signs and then paint them over. Just to mess with future analysts.

Put in Loss (the meme) and paint over it. :D
posted by Quackles at 4:40 PM on November 27, 2018

While the x-ray and infrared views are clearly extremely enlightening (if you'll pardon the pun), for tiny works such as the Tower of Babel, the opportunity to zoom right in and examine the intricate details is a complete gamechanger for art enthusiasts. I had the chance to see this painting as well as others of Bruegel's last year and the exhibition came with quite a few blown-up sections so you didn't need to squint too hard while jostling for position in the great throng of visitors. Now, I can zoom right in at my leisure. Fantastic!

Thanks for posting!
posted by Juso No Thankyou at 12:45 AM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]

I've had one of this guy's works as my desktop background for a couple years. I also draw inspiration from them in a couple of large drawings I've been doing in the same timeframe. Bruegel is amazing and love seeing these progress shots. Didn't know this thing was painted on to wood even.
posted by GoblinHoney at 7:30 AM on November 28, 2018

Its down the street from me. I’ll go as soon as I have the chance
posted by frimble at 1:44 PM on November 28, 2018