The original drawing for this print is also in The Courtauld's collection (D.1947.LF.45). It depicts a kermis, a type of church-sponsored festival common in the Low Countries, that took place regularly in the village of Hoboken near Antwerp. Because of the raucous behaviour that characterised them and which is portrayed in painstaking detail in this engraving, kermises were controversial events. This print, published the year that Philip II of Spain took control of Hoboken and issued a decree limiting their celebration to one day a year, has been seen as a plea for the unhindered continuation of that village’s festivals, despite its somewhat ambiguous portrayal of the carousing villagers, a message further complicated by the derogatory inscription (‘Die boeren verblijen hun in sulken feesten / Te dansen springhen en dronckendrincken als beesten / Sij moeten die kermissen onderhouwen / Al souen sij vasten en steruen van kauwen’: ‘The peasants rejoice at such festivals / in dancing, jumping and getting as drunk as beasts / They must celebrate their kermises / even if they fast and die of cold’). The engraving is the only print designed by Bruegel to be executed by Hogenberg and to be published by Bartholomeus de Momper, an Antwerp competitor of his usual publisher, Hieronymus Cock; it is thought that he chose to collaborate with them in this instance because Cock had already published another kermis print by Bruegel (The Kermis of St George) in 1559. The present impression is of the first of four known states of the print, all of which are extremely rare. Only eight other impressions of this state, which is widely regarded as a proof state, are known.

The popularity of the resulting print greatly added to Bruegel’s reputation, as he was widely celebrated for his vivid representations of peasant life. The original copper plate would be reprinted for almost two centuries.

Private collection, USA, from 1930s; by descent to current owner; purchased through the dealers Hill-Stone Inc., South Dartmouth, MA; purchased by the Samuel Courtauld Trust, 2017.

Drawings Gallery Display - Traces: Renaissance Drawings for Flemish Prints, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 18/06/2022-25/09/2022

Signature: Recto, lower right, within image : Bruegel

Inscription: Recto, lower left, within image : PB

Inscription: Recto, centre, below image : Die boeren verblijen hun in sulken feesten / Te dansen springhen en dronckendrincken als beesten / Sij moeten die kermissen onderhouwen / Al souen sij vasten en steruen van kauwen

Inscription: Recto, lower right : Bartolomeus / de Mompere. Excu.