16th century, Europe, fooleum, Germany, Netherlands, painting, primary source, woodcut
Having posted individual notes on an enigmatic series of similar paintings, it feels time to pull them together in one place, also allowing the various finger-peeping fools to be viewed alongside each other. We will soon add some related prints and in the meantime,...
Europe, France, French, medieval, primary source, quotes
The mirror is a recurring theme in the history of folly, particularly in Europe, where there are many images of a fool holding up a mirror, whether to himself or to you, the bystander. This device can still be seen in some European carnivals.In China too, it is worth...
1st millennium BCE, Europe, fictive fool, Greek, primary source, quotes
We will be featuring proverbs and quotations highlighting the fact that fools often have a capacity to hit the nail on the head. Here, from an unexpected source, a passing comment in Christopher Logue’s superb rendition of several books of Homer’s Iliad....
