Critique

The Triumph of Death

The painting The Triumph of Death, by Pieter Bruegel, is one that sparks intense emotion in who ever view it. The immense chaos that it portrays makes the reader fear whatever is happening in the painting. It is a curious painting, and it is very open to interpretation. One many think that it is depicting a war or even the end of the world. The painting is really displaying the plague in the 16th century. It is a very effective depiction because it relates the plague to a hell on earth.
There is seemingly no focal point to this painting, which is very effective. There is so much chaos that it almost seems real. Almost like a photograph. The foreground is filled with violence and death and fear. Nestled in the background is a sign of hope. A cross is put up and a bunch of priests are gathered around it. It is simple and clean; the color choice was a pure white to symbolize cleanliness and purity. It is a deep contrast to all of the dark hues of death.