16th century, Europe, fictive fool, fooleum, Netherlands, painting, primary source
The peeking through fingers stance is enigmatic, this we know. This version of it, apparently a pretty straightforward twin of the second in our series, if not a copy, is elusive. By chance I saw it on an online art mart. It has now disappeared and I know of no...
16th century, Europe, fictive fool, fooleum, Netherlands, painting, primary source
This version of the ‘peeping through fingers’ jester was attributed by Tietze-Conrat in her 1957 book to the artist Pieter Huys (c. 1519-81), although the art historian Cavalli-Björkman has questioned this and further moots the possibility that this...
16th century, Europe, fictive fool, fooleum, Netherlands, painting, primary source
The second in our peeping-through-fingers series is almost identical in stance and props to the anonymous ‘Laughing Jester’ recently featured, including the coxcomb-ass-ear-cap, the glasses half-revealed, and the marotte or fool-stick. In this case the...
16th century, Europe, fooleum, Netherlands, painting, primary source
The ‘Laughing Jester’ by an unknown Dutch artist is generally dated to around 1520. This work, which is the front cover illustration of the Fools Are Everywhere book, is one of several paintings featuring a jester in this enigmatic stance – peeping...
20th century, dramatic character, Europe, fooleum, photo, primary source, Sweden
Something wonderfully quirky about this old photo of a Swedish actor, Ivar Nilsson, in the role of King Lear’s fool. The costume with the rabbit ear cap is striking, but it is the facial expression and make up which captivates, including an off-centre nose and a...
16th century, 17th century, bibliography, Europe, Germany, journal paper, research
This short paper describes and reflects on an intriguing German engraving (c. 1600) by an unknown artist, which features a Large Head of a Jester and an inscription beneath.Wearing a traditional jester’s cap, complete with coxcomb and bells, and various badges,...
16th century, 17th century, engraving, Europe, fooleum, German, Germany, primary source, print
This intriguing German engraving (c. 1600) features a Large Head of a Jester and an inscription beneath. Â Wearing a traditional jester’s cap complete with coxcomb and bells, and various badges, it stands out for both the curious lip-biting stance and the...
16th century, 17th century, Europe, fooleum, Netherlands, primary source
This enigmatic painting by Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (1562-1638) features a fool with the cap so often attributed to European jesters, though it remains unclear the extent to which real court jesters ever wore such caps. Â I have yet to come across a portrait of a...
