Haywain (detail) 1516

This is a detail of ‘Haywain’ painted by Hieronymus Bosch in the early 16th century. Bosch lived in a time of religious upheaval, social change, and a growing sense of human fallibility. Here, Bosch captures a scene teeming with figures, each consumed by their own desires and vices. The haywain, a cart carrying hay, symbolizes worldly possessions and the fleeting nature of earthly pleasures. Look at the individuals climbing over one another to grab at the hay, heedless of the consequences. Bosch seems to suggest that the pursuit of material wealth leads to chaos and moral decay, an idea that resonates even today. The painting also offers a glimpse into the social hierarchy of the time, with the clergy and nobility positioned prominently on horseback, seemingly detached from the struggles of the common folk. What does it mean to see our shared humanity reflected in their expressions of greed and folly?