1 / 8
“Packed with superlative reproductions.”
“One of the most imaginative, original and captivating artists in history.”
- “Like Shakespeare, Bruegel can capture the theatre of life in scenes that are comic yet full of acute psychological portraits.”
Bruegel. The Complete Paintings. 40th Ed.
Hardcover, 6.1 x 8.5 in., 2.43 lb, 512 pages30Availability: In StockDerived from the XXL monograph which saw TASCHEN undertake a comprehensive photographic survey of the artist’s oeuvre, this compact edition explores Bruegel’s 40 paintings through exceptional details and reproductions. We discover how, using his own pictorial language in scenes teeming with minutiae, Bruegel captured the theater of life.

Bruegel. The Complete Paintings. 40th Ed.
30Bruegel’s Complete Paintings
An in-depth exploration of Bruegel’s painted work
The life and times of Pieter Bruegel the Elder (c. 1526/30–1569) were marked by stark cultural conflict. He witnessed religious wars, the Duke of Alba’s brutal rule as governor of the Netherlands, and the palpable effects of the Inquisition. To this day, the Flemish artist remains shrouded in mystery. We know neither where nor exactly when he was born. But while early scholarship emphasized the vernacular character of his painting and graphic work, modern research has attached greater importance to its humanistic content.
Starting out as a print designer for publisher Hieronymus Cock, Bruegel produced numerous print series that were distributed throughout Europe. These depicted vices and virtues alongside jolly peasant festivals and sweeping landscape panoramas. He then increasingly turned to painting, working for the cultural elite of Antwerp and Brussels. Rather than idealizing reality, he bravely confronted the issues of his day, addressing the horrors of religious warfare and taking a critical stand against the institution of the Church. To this end, Bruegel developed his own pictorial language of dissidence, lacing innocuous everyday scenes with subliminal statements in order to escape repercussions.
This book is derived from our XXL monograph, which saw TASCHEN undertake a comprehensive photographic survey of the artist’s oeuvre. The result boasts exceptional details and reproductions, unveiling Bruegel’s larger-than-life universe with unprecedented clarity. This volume, in celebration of our 40th anniversary, presents all 40 paintings, accompanied by enlarged details and accessible, immersive texts.
Starting out as a print designer for publisher Hieronymus Cock, Bruegel produced numerous print series that were distributed throughout Europe. These depicted vices and virtues alongside jolly peasant festivals and sweeping landscape panoramas. He then increasingly turned to painting, working for the cultural elite of Antwerp and Brussels. Rather than idealizing reality, he bravely confronted the issues of his day, addressing the horrors of religious warfare and taking a critical stand against the institution of the Church. To this end, Bruegel developed his own pictorial language of dissidence, lacing innocuous everyday scenes with subliminal statements in order to escape repercussions.
This book is derived from our XXL monograph, which saw TASCHEN undertake a comprehensive photographic survey of the artist’s oeuvre. The result boasts exceptional details and reproductions, unveiling Bruegel’s larger-than-life universe with unprecedented clarity. This volume, in celebration of our 40th anniversary, presents all 40 paintings, accompanied by enlarged details and accessible, immersive texts.
The author
Jürgen Müller holds the chair of Early Modern and Modern Art History at the Technical University of Dresden. He studied Art History at the universities of Bochum, Münster, Pisa, Paris, and Amsterdam, and has worked as an art critic and curator of numerous exhibitions. He is also the editor of TASCHEN’s movies by decade series.
Bruegel. The Complete Paintings. 40th Ed.
Hardcover, 15.6 x 21.7 cm, 1.10 kg, 512 pagesISBN 978-3-8365-8095-3
Edition: FrenchISBN 978-3-8365-8096-0
Edition: EnglishDownload product images here
5
Bruegel without the cliches
October 28, 2021
Great reproductions of the art works. Interesting text that dispels some of the weary labels attached to the artist.Magnifique
October 27, 2021
Vos reproductions de peinture sont d'une expressivité exceptionnelle. Les photos de Salgado sont d'une telle pureté qu'elles ressortent du papier pour venir à notre rencontre. Magnifique. Je reste sous le charme.Absolutely astonishing
October 27, 2021
Absolutely astonishing. The paintings are beautifully brought to life in high-qualityBestes Geschenk
October 29, 2021
Habe es verschenkt und es kam unheimlich gut an! Wurde liebend gern durchgelesen und die Drucke sind einfach Hammer!Wunderschönes Buch
October 29, 2021
Sehr schön gestaltetes Buch, für alle Bruegel Freunde ein unbedingtes Muss.Magnifique
October 27, 2021
Vos reproductions de peinture sont d'une expressivité exceptionnelle. Les photos de Salgado sont d'une telle pureté qu'elles ressortent du papier pour venir à notre rencontre. Magnifique. Je reste sous le charme.