The Land of Cockaigne by Pieter Bruegel was created in 1567 and is in Alte Pinakothek München. The size of the work is 51,5 x 78,3 cm and is made of oil on wood.
About the Work
This passage addresses human misconduct—such as idleness and gluttony—which, as illustrated by representatives of three social estates (a soldier, a peasant, and a scholar), permeates all levels of society. Sloth and an indulgence in vices are closely linked.
Several of the individuals who made the acquisition of “The Land of Cockaigne” (Schlaraffenland) for the Alte Pinakothek possible were persecuted, marginalized, and murdered as Jews during the National Socialist era. Remembering their contributions here serves as just one example of the many patrons of the Bavarian State Painting Collections—individuals who played a vital role in expanding Bavaria’s art collections, yet were persecuted by the state as Jews between 1933 and 1945.