The Punk Rocker of the Northern Renaissance: How Pieter Aertsen’s Meat Stall Broke the Boundaries

Description/Abstract/Artist Statement

The sixteenth-century Dutch painter Pieter Aertsen completed The Meat Stall in Antwerp in 1551. At its surface, The Meat Stall appears as a mere visual assault of viscera. However, upon closer examination, several religious metaphors and a biblical scene emerge. Scholars credit Aertsen with creating a unique approach to everyday life scenes, expanding on the genre painting type. However, The Meat Stall’s significance extends beyond conceptualizing an art movement; it responds to the ongoing Protestant Reformation in Northern Europe. With Martin Luther and his followers weakening the Catholic stronghold in Europe, artists, including Aertsen, were looking for methods to safely criticize the severe tension between the two branches of Christian faith while salvaging their careers. Although scholars have acknowledged the impact of the Protestant Reformation on Aertsen’s The Meat Stall, this paper examines how he utilized revolting imagery as a form of satire to accessibly share moral lessons to the less privileged working class.

Presenting Author Name/s

Carla Leanzo

Faculty Advisor/Mentor

Anne Muraoka

College Affiliation

College of Arts & Letters

Presentation Type

Oral Presentation

Disciplines

Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque Art and Architecture

Session Title

Art History 2: Identity and Society

Location

Zoom Room L

Start Date

3-20-2021 11:00 AM

End Date

3-20-2021 11:55 AM

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Mar 20th, 11:00 AM Mar 20th, 11:55 AM

The Punk Rocker of the Northern Renaissance: How Pieter Aertsen’s Meat Stall Broke the Boundaries

Zoom Room L

The sixteenth-century Dutch painter Pieter Aertsen completed The Meat Stall in Antwerp in 1551. At its surface, The Meat Stall appears as a mere visual assault of viscera. However, upon closer examination, several religious metaphors and a biblical scene emerge. Scholars credit Aertsen with creating a unique approach to everyday life scenes, expanding on the genre painting type. However, The Meat Stall’s significance extends beyond conceptualizing an art movement; it responds to the ongoing Protestant Reformation in Northern Europe. With Martin Luther and his followers weakening the Catholic stronghold in Europe, artists, including Aertsen, were looking for methods to safely criticize the severe tension between the two branches of Christian faith while salvaging their careers. Although scholars have acknowledged the impact of the Protestant Reformation on Aertsen’s The Meat Stall, this paper examines how he utilized revolting imagery as a form of satire to accessibly share moral lessons to the less privileged working class.