Head of Peasant
Historical Context
Head of a Peasant in the Bavarian State Painting Collections, attributed to Brueghel around 1568, is a character study that may relate to his larger peasant scenes. Brueghel's sympathetic observation of rural life represented a revolutionary shift in European art's treatment of ordinary people. Brueghel's peasant head studies, whether preparatory drawings or independent works, reflect his sustained interest in the physical and psychological character of the laboring classes he depicted with such sympathy and humor.
Technical Analysis
The peasant's weathered features are rendered with naturalistic directness and warm humanity. The small format focuses attention on individual character in a way that dignifies the common subject.
