The painting “The Ship of Fools” refers to the mature period of Bosch’s work. The central theme of the “Ship of Fools” goes through all of the artist’s work. This mockery and condemnation of the vices of human society, the stupidity and evil that dominate the world.
The notion of “ships” spread widely during the Middle Ages. There were images of “Ship Lord” and “Ship of the Devil”, personified the good and evil beginnings. These concepts had a generalized meaning: the righteous and sinners are, respectively, on their ships.
The passengers of the Bosch ship are representatives of various strata of society. The main place is occupied by a monk and a nun who are drinking with a group of peasants, who are singing a song for the striking of the lute.
Instead of a mast – a tree, a broken branch serves as a rudder, a ladle with a long handle – a paddle A fool in a stupid hood, drinking wine, sat down on the mast.
Composite construction of his paintings, Bosch emphasizes the instability and ephemeral nature of the ship, the senselessness of what is happening. The figures are flat, rough and ugly, resemble grotesque masks. They twist, scream, rage, at the risk of turning the ship. Each figure and every object have a symbolic meaning and allude to human vices: intemperance, debauchery, drunkenness, gluttony, vanity. A pink flag with a crescent moon and an owl on a tree – simoles of evil and heresy A monk and nun are depicted in the same poses as couples in medieval love gardens, which, as a rule, make prelude music for making love.
The fruits of the cherry, lute and wine jug are debauchery and loss of self-control from wine. The author clearly wants to hurt the viewer for a living, shocking, so that involuntarily the question came to mind: where does such a ship sail? Fools on the ship are not atheists, since among them are a monk and a nun, but they all live “in stupidity.” Bosch laughs, but it’s a sad laugh.
After all, all mankind sails through the sea of Time on one common “Ship.” We all, who are more, who are less, are subject to the same vices as the “fools”. We eat, drink, cheat, play silly games. Meanwhile, our ship drifts aimlessly. An eccentric and mysterious genius, Bosch clearly showed ugly, sinister and monstrous things – the hidden creatures of our inner world. “Ship of Fools” – not about other people, it’s about us. This we must ask ourselves: where does our ship sail?
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