A Closer Look at the Genius of Bruegel

Pieter Bruegel the Elder, one of the most important 16th century painters, was largely forgotten until his rediscovery by art historians in the early 20th century.

Peter Bruegel the Elder’s Hunters in the Snow is not only a defining image of wintertime; it is also one of the most famous paintings in western art history. While the hunters in the foreground lend the painting its name, Bruegel’s scene is filled throughout with careful observation of nature and micro-narratives of village life. We take a look at some of the hidden details in this great, snow-clad landscape, click the image above to discover more.

Bruegel: The Master accompanies the major exhibition at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. This spectacular book unites the artist’s works in different media – paintings, drawings and prints.

Pieter Bruegel d. Ä.(um 1525/30 Breda ? – 1569 Brüssel) The Hunters in the Snow. 1565, oil on canvas, 117 x 162  cm. Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie, inv. no. GG 1838 © KHM-Museumsverband

Words by Eliza Apperly.