The Fool and the Foolish Woman, c. 1536-40

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Engravingexpand_more

Gift of Herschel V. Jones, 1926expand_more  P.10,591

Not on Viewexpand_more

Coupled with the 16th-century fear of women was the fear of appearing the fool-whether in love, marriage, or social conduct. Here two fools sit in a ramshackle love garden with their ass's ears (indicating lack of reason) and their respective and quite explicit attributes. The buzzing flies connote love-making. A female fool was most unusual, perhaps an implication that women are susceptible to love's temptations, too.

Details
Title
The Fool and the Foolish Woman
Artist Life
1500–1550
Role
Artist
Accession Number
P.10,591
Provenance
Roullier
Catalogue Raisonne
Pauli, Hollstein 215 ii/ii; Bartsch 213
Curator Approved

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