Village Feast

Teniers promotes the tradition of the Brueghel dynasty and sought inspiration in the rural life. This village feast portrays celebrating farmers, somewhat romanticised and idyllically presented. Teniers lived in a time in which morality lessons were very popular, especially with relation to the allusion of the temporal nature of earthly existence. On a small lean-to on the inn we see a horse’s skull depicted. In general, a skull was seen as a symbol of temporality of things; a horse’s skull, from which the lower jaw is missing, indicated unbridled festivity, foolishness and ignorance.