At the beginning of class, we discussed the transition to artists selling their art on the open market. Now, art was not only made for a specific commissioner, but to be sold to anyone who wished to buy a work. This changed the subject matter and techniques in art considerably. Firstly, artists now had fewer constraints from their patrons, and could be more creative with their work. Because of this, artist’ names themselves became more important, as the artist was now more important than patron. This competitive art market led to virtuosity and specialization, as artists competed to sell their work.
We also dedicated a lot of class time to discussing the Dutch artist Peter Bruegel. One of his most notable works is the Netherlandish Proverbs. This painting embodies over a hundred proverbs. This allows it to serve as both a piece of art and a conversation piece. Bruegel’s landscapes and scenes of everyday people were truly a step away from traditional art of the time.