dramatic character, fictive fool, folk fool, historical figure, quotes, stories
Dear Friends of Fools, Happy to announce you can now also follow the fool on our recently launched Instagram account.  See you there (and here, of course). And thank you for your continuing support, next batch of anecjokes coming up soon… Yours, in joy and...
18th century, Europe, fictive fool, primary source, quotes, Wales, Welsh
Speaking the truth, especially to power, is a risky business, occasionally even life-threatening. Better leave it to the professionals who know how to wrap it in humour so the receiver laughs before they have chance to chop anyone’s head off. This from an...
20th century, England, fictive fool, primary source, quotes
Once I was asked what motivated me to study fools and jesters, and I answered ‘envy’. A little of that, and a lot of admiration for their various skills and resilience. This quote of Kenneth Grahame perhaps conveys the exuberant spirit of the fool. Oh,...
Europe, fictive fool, Ireland, Irish, medieval, primary source, quotes, stories
From an Irish myth, a curious shopping list of what subordinate chieftains need as proof of your elevation above them: not only you should provide ample food and beer (as evidenced by greasy knives and ale-breath), but you should equally ensure they be lavishly...
20th century, drawing, Europe, fictive fool, fooleum, Netherlands, primary source
This eye-catching drawing is by Leo Schatz, a Dutch artist who was a member of the resistance during the Second World War in the Netherlands. In trying to understand what might have prompted this curious untitled sketch, featuring two men in profile with elongated...
16th century, Europe, fictive fool, fooleum, Netherlands, painting, primary source
The last in this series of paintings (for now, I keep stumbling across new ones) bears a striking resemblance to our mysterious Moe No. 4. This one, too, I found on an auction site. Said to be the work of the Master of 1537, who worked in Mechelen and whose name...
16th century, Europe, fictive fool, fooleum, German, Germany, primary source, woodcut
The latest in our series of fools peeping through their fingers, this one is a woodcut by Heinrich Vogtherr the Younger (1513-68), dated to around 1540 and so slightly later than the preceding paintings on the same theme.  He has the cap and bells complete with ass...
16th century, Europe, fictive fool, fooleum, painting, primary source
Another version of the peeping-through-fingers theme, this one closely resembling the second in our series, which we’ll call the Wellesley fool. It was sold by Christie’s in 2017 and they attributed it to a follower of Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen...
