“The Ship of Fools” – Hieronymus Bosch | DKjo! | discussion

One Picture Discussion Club: “The Ship of Fools” – Hieronymus Bosch

At November’s DKJo!, we will take a look at Hieronymus Bosch’s “The Ship of Fools” – a small but dense satire on human vices. It is a boat without a helmsman, full of feasting and gambling characters, which serves as a warning against intemperance and social short-sightedness. We will also talk about how the motif of the “ship of fools” returns today in art and culture (music, visual arts, social commentary).

What will we analyze? (questions for discussion)

• How does Bosch direct our gaze without using classical perspective – what do the mast, flag, and gestures of the figures “do”?
• What symbols of intemperance (food, dishes, instruments) can we see here – and what significance do they have for interpreting the painting?
• We will try to understand why the boat has no helmsman and who is “in charge” on board the ship.
• We will also attempt to answer the question of whether “The Ship of Fools” is just a morality play or a commentary on the realities of the era.
• We will also consider where we can find the motif of the “ship of fools” today and how contemporary culture transforms, imitates, and reinterprets it.

During the meeting, we will explore the meaning of this mysterious and still not fully explained painting, and, as always, we will invite you to join in a discussion, exchange interpretations, and reflect on the work.

Host: art historian Łukasz Wudarski.