Practicing my brush technique, after a hiatus of a dozen years. It's fun how you will recognice Bosch-ian characters in the paintings of his followers once you have done them yourself. On the left, is a study of a 16th century painting of an unknown follower of Jheronimus Bosch. The title is "hy soect de byle". (he is looking for the hatchet)
Now how cartoony is that? Whether this is a direct copy of one of Bosch's paintings is not known, but there is more earthly folklore in his paintings than is gererally assumed, so why not. It's not all fire and brimstone, mysticism and obscure references to the Old Testament.
The title refers to a common name for a tavern at the time, "The Hatchet". (Note the sign with the hatchet) The boozehound told his wife he went to chop wood, but he was off to the local, instead. . He was then exposed: "he fell through the basket" is a Dutch expression still in use. He is carried by his wife (financially supported?). Their sexual relation is suggested by his empty bagpipes. It is still unclear what the angry, rather butch-looking woman on the right is about, or the curious hobbit-sized archer in the bottom left corner. I'd like to know...
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5 comments:
Those are really great characters you've drawn! I love all the little details in Bosch's works. Is that plant in the jug being suspended or is it in midair? BTW, it looks to me like the archer is showing the way to the tavern, or perhaps beckoning company. His eyeline seems to go towards the butch woman wearing the funnel.
I knew a guy who was carried home from the bar by his mother in a wheelbarrow because he was too drunk. And it happened many times.
@Kurt: The jug with the plant is suspended (with a nail, I suppose), it used to be another sign for a tavern. An upside down jug on a stick however is a sign for a brothel in Bosch's paintings. The little archer seems to be pulling some rope with which the basket is fastened, but I am not sure if he's realy doing it, or why. Most of the symbolisms here appaer in other paintings, but not this guy.
@Gaspard: :)
Great sketches! It's cool to see you using a brush to ink.
maybe the guy went to the bar, spent the money for wine & women, so then his wife bring him back home 'empty'... so the archer is a kind of drunk eros?
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