The artwork “Pride” by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, created in 1558, is an allegorical ink on paper piece that represents the Northern Renaissance art movement. Its dimensions are 23 by 30 cm and it is part of the series “The Vices and the Virtues.” Currently, this piece is housed in the British Museum in London, UK.
“Pride” (Superbia in Latin, as visible in the artwork) by Bruegel is a densely packed composition filled with a multitude of figures and fantastical elements. At its center, there is a peacock, a bird traditionally associated with vanity and pride, surrounded by various individuals who seem to be indulging in self-admiration or haughty behavior. Some characters display exaggerated postures of grandiosity and others are preoccupied with their own reflection. The detailed inkwork features many interactions and vignettes that contribute to the overall theme of the vice of pride, with an undercurrent of humor and satire common in Bruegel’s work. Each little scene within the image offers a moralistic view on human folly related to pride, inviting the viewer to reflect on the consequences of this vice.
