The Peasant Wedding 

Pieter Brueghel the Younger created this painting depicting a boisterous peasant wedding using oil on wood. It offers a glimpse into 17th-century Flemish culture. But it is also part of a larger tradition of peasant imagery in art. Brueghel’s painting creates meaning through visual codes. The setting of the wedding in a barn connects it to the rural, agricultural life of peasants. The clothing of the figures identifies them as working class. The scene is full of activity with people eating, drinking, and playing music which suggests a communal celebration that transcends social class distinctions. In the context of early modern Europe, this image reflects a growing interest in the lives of ordinary people. Yet the painting is clearly not made by a peasant but rather for the pleasure of a wealthy patron. Art historians consult sources like inventories, letters, and account books to trace the economic and social circumstances in which art like this was made. This helps us understand how the image reflects the social structures of the time.