Bethlehem covered in snow: Truth or fiction in a painting by Bruegel the Elder

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Surely many of you, considering the picture of the genius of the Northern Renaissance Pieter Bruegel the Elder "The census in Bethlehem" asked the question: "How can it be that Bethlehem was covered with snow?" What goals was pursued by the brilliant master of painting, what did he want to tell the viewer with his extraordinary work - further, in the review

Gospel story about the Nativity of Christ

And, since the evangelists agreed that the birthplace of Christ is Bethlehem, they indicated this city in the scriptures, since it was called by the Old Testament prophets the city from which the Messiah will appear. According to the scripture, Joseph and Mary, obeying the decree of the Roman emperor Augustus, and went from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where the population census took place. The emperor's decree stated that every Jew must return to the city where he was born for registration. Therefore, the law-abiding carpenter set off on a rather dangerous road - due to the timing of Mary's pregnancy - the road. Every day was counting, as Mary was about to give birth to a child. And she gave birth … According to the Holy Scriptures, the Messiah was born in Bethlehem.

Many beautiful pictures have been written on this theme of Christmas, and the storyline, as a rule, was the same: Holy Land, Holy Family, angels, manger, animals and other attributes … With all this, everything was portrayed in a very stately, solemn and noble manner.

But the Dutch artist of the 16th century Pieter Bruegel the Elder looked at the Gospel story in a completely different way and created a work in his characteristic pictorial manner. And now, centuries later, we can contemplate the Christmas plot, performed in a winter way - a la the Netherlands.

"Census in Bethlehem" by Pieter Bruegel

Pieter Bruegel created his famous work based on the Gospel story in 1566, the main theme of which the artist showed the life and life of the Dutch people in a social aspect. This picture was a vivid example of how the old masters often used the Gospel texts, skillfully adapting them to the realities of their time.

By the way, the time of the creation of the "Census in Bethlehem" coincides with the time of the beginning of the Dutch revolution, the beginning of the active struggle of the Dutch against Spanish feudalism and Catholicism. Namely, starting from 1566, Bruegel's work has been developing in this direction and in the most direct connection with these historical events. All his works of this period impress with the consciousness of the reliability of what is happening, and the Gospel story, in fact, serves only as a disguise.

And, curiously, Bruegel would not have been Bruegel if he had not used the original interpretation of the plot and its main characters. He literally dissolved the Holy Family among the crowd that came to the inn. And only one detail acts as a connecting link with the Gospel story - this is a donkey, on which Mary is riding and an ox walking alongside.

Therefore, despite the fact that the artist in his painting depicted participation in the "census" of Joseph and Mary quite symbolically, he very convincingly emphasized the fact of the presence of Jesus here and now, showing that

What is actually shown in the picture

Bruegel used this story to convey the essence of the tyranny that the local authorities repaired in the Dutch cities and villages. As a symbol of this power, the artist showed the coat of arms of the Habsburgs, to the family of which Philip II of Spain, who ruled in the Netherlands at that time, belonged. He put it on the wall of a house, under the roof of which there is no census at all …

According to the general opinion of historians, under the guise of a "census in Bethlehem," the artist allegorically depicted the Spanish tax collection from the inhabitants of a small Dutch town. As a background, the master used a landscape typical of the Netherlands: a small village covered with snow, a characteristic feature of the landscape of which is a hilly area, often used by the master in his work.

So, the Dutch village is depicted in a snowy winter, which, of course, does not happen in real Bethlehem. The point of view from which the viewer sees what is happening is located high enough, as if the artist was painting his picture, looking out of the attic window of some structure, literally snatching out an instant perspective. The horizon line is high, which allowed him to show a huge number of characters, details and various actions on the picture plane.

The winter day is drawing to a close - the red sun is rolling towards the horizon, and is only slightly visible from the tree branches in the central part of the canvas. In all likelihood, the events take place in the month of December - an indirect indication of this is the fragment in the lower left corner of the picture where a man cuts a pig. This usually happened in the Netherlands in December. The prepared sheaves of straw indicate that the pig will be scorched on them. This idea is repeatedly found in Bruegel's paintings. For example, this is exactly what the characters in the painting "Hunters in the Snow" do.

Further, examining the left side of the picture, we see that a dense crowd of townspeople has gathered at the door of the inn. In the depths of the building, one can see tables, at which officials manage, lined with tax books. As mentioned above, although Bruegel's work is called the "census", the actions of officials are nothing more than tax collection.

In the center of the canvas, the viewer sees an unremarkable pair: He, walking in front, with a carpenter's saw on his shoulder, and She - riding a donkey. This is the Holy Family, which is heading to the inn. Curiously, the artist depicted them as completely ordinary people, without halos and angels, as is customary in iconography. Nevertheless, it is thanks to these characters that the idea and storyline of the canvas develops. And complement and define the artist's plan - a donkey that carries Mary, as well as an ox walking alongside. By and large, only these animals are the connecting link between the events reflected on the canvas and the gospel story. After all, it was these animals that were supposed to be present at the birth of the baby Jesus.

And also, looking closely, we see that in relation to Mary, Joseph is a secondary figure and is depicted by the artist from the back, behind a wide-brimmed hat, unusual for residents of northern latitudes, we cannot see his face. And Mary herself is hardly noticeable, she is depicted in dark veils, which are also unusual for traditional Dutch attire, which makes her stand out from other women.

Well, in fact, Bruegel's painting is a real encyclopedia of the life of a small Dutch town in winter. And white snow and ice symbolize renewal, future joys, the beginning of something new.

There is a lot of dynamics and movement on the canvas. A small town lives with its own worries, joys, everyday life and holidays. We see, in general, a continuous purely Bruegelian life: people are busy with their daily affairs: the construction of farm buildings, collecting brushwood, housework. The owners are scurrying about preparing for Christmas…. The children are enthusiastically playing and skating on the ice.

And, finally, I would like to note that in general, this work perfectly illustrates the mature manner of the painter, which differs from the earlier one, namely: schematically depicted people's faces, bringing the main characters (Joseph and Mary) to the "sidelines" of the narrative, unwillingness to embellish their characters. As for the technical side, we see a clear outline drawing, vivid expressiveness of images, "sonority" of the color palette, spatial breadth and depth of the composition and the subtlest sense of tonal unity.

Continuing the theme of Dutch painters, read in our magazine: Why the deaf-mute painter of the late Middle Ages painted only winter landscapes: Hendrik Averkamp.