Fools & Folly in Flemish Art
According to medieval theologians, faith is a deadly serious business. Humour and virtue are irreconcilable, because laughter is uncontrollable and escapes the control of reason. A modest smile is permitted. But laughing loudly, grinning and grimacing: these are the playing field of the devil – just as pernicious as other uncontrollable urges, such as physical love or the addiction of the gambler. That is the domain of the peasant or fool.
In the late Middle Ages, every right-thinking town-dweller knew the difference between the peasant and the fool. Peasants are
innocently gullible, primitive, throwing themselves into feasting, gorging, drinking and sex. The peasant is the antithesis of the cultivated urbanite, who fastidiously controls his urges – and who therefore above all must not laugh too loudly. Only during Innocents Day parties or Shrove Tuesday celebrations is it permitted for urban partygoers to play the fool and to show their ‘underbelly'.
In contrast to the peasant, the fool escapes the existing order. He holds up a mirror to the self-declared wise citizens, because ‘the fool reveals the truth through laughter', even though it may be hidden between piss and shit, sex and snot. It is for precisely this reason that Erasmus, in his In Praise of Folly writes not as himself but through the persona of Folly, a broad back behind which the wise person can hide when he denounces social problems. Laughter thus alters the world.
In this context, the fool and irony became important motifs in medieval art, especially in the Low Countries. This original art book is illustrated with dozens of top-quality works by Flemish masters from worldwide collections.
Author: Larry Silver
Hardcover: 256 pages
Language: English
9.84 x 1.1 x 11.43 inches
SHIPPING:
Orders shipped within the United States are sent via USPS or UPS. Tracking information will be provided by email once your order has shipped.
PEM Shop is not responsible for lost or stolen merchandise once an order has shipped. Customers are encouraged to use the tracking information provided to monitor their shipments.
IN STORE PICKUP:
We are pleased to offer in-store pickup for our local customers! Follow the steps below to pick up your online order:
- Shop online at shop.pem.org.
- At checkout, select Curbside Pickup as your shipping method and place your order.
- Once your order is ready, you will receive an email with pickup instructions.
- Follow the instructions in your email and pick up your order at PEM Shop, located at 161 Essex Street, Salem, MA 01970.
- Orders not picked up within two weeks of the order date will be canceled and refunded.
Please Note:
-
Please allow 2–3 days from the purchase date for order processing.
-
In-store pickup is available Thursday through Monday, 10 am–5 pm.
-
Please wait for your order-ready email before visiting for pickup.
RETURN & EXCHANGE POLICY:
PEM Shop accepts eligible returns within 30 days of the original purchase date. To qualify for a return, items must be in their original condition and packaging.
To initiate a return, please contact us at contactus@pem.org. Please include your order information and details about the item you wish to return. Our team will provide instructions for the return process.
Shipping Fees: Buyers are responsible for all incoming shipping charges associated with returns or exchanges, including the cost of shipping items back to PEM Shop. Original outgoing shipping charges paid at the time of purchase are non-refundable. PEM Shop does not reimburse outgoing or incoming shipping costs for returns or exchanges.
Non-Returnable Items: The following items cannot be returned or exchanged for store credit:
-
Jellycat products
-
Sale and clearance items
-
Personal-use items, including face masks
-
Food Items
-
Akari Lighting
Please contact us before sending any items back to ensure your return is handled properly.