FLEMISH FAIR AFTER DAVID VINCKBOONS
“Die Boire Cermis” [the farmers’ kermesse], engraving made in 1602 by Nicolaes de Bruyn after the design by David Vinckboons, here in a second state published by Gerard Valck around 1680. Size: (paper) 44 x 70 cm.
David Vinckboons (1576-1631/1633) specialized in painting landscapes with small figures, peasant scenes in the tradition of Pieter Bruegel, merry companies, and Biblical scenes. This is the largest and most spectacular print based on a design by Vinckboons that exists. In a bird’s-eye view with many dozens of tiny figures, a comprehensive picture is presented of everything that happens at a fair. The crowd dances, feasts, drinks, fights, and gawks at stalls and a farcical play (perhaps a rhetorician‘s performance).
Richly dressed city folks observe the bustle with slight disdain. In the foreground, they form a walking and dancing procession. Their venue on the left resembles something we would nowadays call a ‘wine bar’. Opposite this, on the right near the common inn “In de Gulde Lis” [in the golden lilly], things are a bit rougher. People are eating and drinking. A man is grinning as he urinates next to the entrance. A jester is being chased by a small group. On the flag on the facade it states title of the scene: “Die Boire Cermis.” There is quite a fight taking place in front of the neighbouring house.
For a long time, David Vinckboons’ painting was known as the “Kermis of Oudenaarde,” because the building with the towers and battlements in the center resembles, and is probably based on, the town hall of Oudenaarde, south of Ghent.
This composition provides a fascinating glimpse into the folk life and festivities in the Low Countries at the beginning of the 17th century and is considered a masterpiece of Flemish genre painting.
Literature:
- Hollstein “Dutch & Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts ca. 1450 – 1700”, no.171
- Wurzbach “Niederländisches Künstler-Lexikon“ (1906), no. 97
Price: Euro 2.150,-
