Description
A black-cloaked man stands at the left of this circular engraving while a small figure in a globe-like form reaches for his purse from behind. Distant buildings and a windmill give the encounter an ordinary landscape setting. In Bruegel’s design, the misanthrope’s withdrawal from people does not spare him from an unwelcome meeting with the world.
Made by Jan Wierix around 1568, the print belongs to Twelve Flemish Proverbs. Engraved lines provide the precision needed for a concise scene whose meaning extends beyond its immediate action. The image’s interest lies in the meeting of humor and warning: distance from others does not necessarily place a person beyond their reach. Bruegel’s design gives a familiar saying a human shape, allowing the viewer to consider its implication through an encounter rather than a statement alone.
Read our guide to giclée prints, browse more Pieter Bruegel prints, or explore Big Fish Eat Little Fish.
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