Flemish Fair 

"Flemish Fair" was created by Jan Brueghel the Elder using oil paints, sometime around the turn of the 17th century. Brueghel’s choice of oil on panel was rooted in traditions of meticulous craftsmanship. Look closely, and you’ll see the smooth surface which allows for incredible detail, capturing the textures of fabric, foliage, and human skin. This was achieved through a patient, layered approach. Pigments, ground from minerals and plants, were suspended in oil and carefully applied. The level of detail suggests a celebration of human industry and social life. The fair becomes a stage where labour, trade, and leisure intersect. Each figure, rendered with care, contributes to the overall sense of a thriving community, and a robust economy. Brueghel elevates the everyday activities of working-class people to the realm of high art. The work invites us to appreciate the value of craftsmanship, and to consider the ways in which materials and making shape our understanding of art and society.