“Dulle Griet (Mad Meg)” is a genre painting created by Pieter Bruegel the Elder in 1564. Painted in oil on canvas, this work exemplifies the Northern Renaissance art movement and is part of Bruegel’s “Boschian series.” The artwork, which measures 117.4 x 162 cm, is housed at the Museum Mayer van den Bergh in Antwerp, Belgium.
The artwork presents a chaotic and complex scene of a hellscape, featuring an array of surreal and grotesque characters and creatures. Central to the scene is a figure, identified as Dulle Griet or Mad Meg, who is often interpreted as a personification of madness or fury. She is depicted clad in armor and carrying a sword and household objects, leading an army through a tumultuous landscape filled with bizarre and monstrous forms. The background is dominated by intense reds and oranges, suggesting flames and destruction, while various detailed scenes unfold, each depicting minutely detailed, fantastical elements. The painting captures a sense of apocalyptic dread and dark humor, typical of Bruegel’s imaginative and allegorical style.
