Description
The painting The Tower of Babel by Pieter Bruegel the Elder is known to be a masterpiece of 16th century painting. One of the most interesting things about this painting is its incredible level of detail, showing the magnitude of the tower's construction and the activity of daily life in the city.
Brueghel made two paintings with the same title, one of them admiring the great Jewish building. And the other with much more detail (this one), with clear light, showing people, workers and boats.
Furthermore, the painting is believed to have a deeper symbolic meaning, representing human arrogance and inordinate ambition. Bruegel is said to have been inspired by the Biblical story of the Tower of Babel, where the construction of a tower reaching to heaven was halted by confusion of languages.
Another interesting detail is that, despite the fact that the tower is the center of the painting, it is located in a secondary place, which suggests that Bruegel was not interested in the construction itself, but in the idea behind it.
Another interesting fact about The Tower of Babel is that there is a black and white version of the painting, known as The Tower of Babel Gris, which is in the collection of the Royal Library of Brussels.
This version was made by Bruegel himself, and is believed to have been created to showcase the artist's intricacy and technical skill. In this version, the level of detail of the original painting can be appreciated even more, since the lines of the drawing and the brush strokes can be seen more clearly.
Furthermore, this black and white version has allowed art historians to study Bruegel's technique and style in greater detail, contributing to a greater understanding and appreciation of his work in general.
Pieter Bruegel the Elder's Tower of Babel is a masterpiece that goes beyond its impressive level of detail, and carries a deep symbolic meaning that continues to fascinate viewers to this day.
The Tower of Babel is ranked no. 27 on the list of famous paintings