TheOldMastersPrintsNetherlandish Proverbs by Pieter Brueghel the Elder: meaning, location and key facts
Netherlandish Proverbs is an oil on oak panel by Pieter Brueghel the Elder, painted in 1559. It measures 117 × 163 cm and is held at the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin.
Key facts
| Artist | Pieter Brueghel the Elder |
|---|---|
| Date | 1559 |
| Medium | Oil on oak panel |
| Dimensions | 117 × 163 cm (height × width) |
| Museum | Gemäldegalerie, Berlin |
| Style | Flemish painting |
| Data source | Wikidata (Q533619) · Wikipedia |
What it shows
A Flemish village full of people doing absurd things: a woman puts a blue cloak on her husband (she is cheating on him), a man bangs his head against a wall, another casts roses before swine and someone fills in the well after the calf has drowned.
Each scene illustrates a Netherlandish proverb of the time; more than a hundred have been identified. It is a catalogue of human folly and at the same time a game for the viewer to discover the sayings one by one.
Did you know?
- In its day it was also known as The Blue Cloak or The Topsy-Turvy World.
- It was painted by Pieter Bruegel the Elder in 1559.
- It has been in the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin since 1914.
Where to see the original
Netherlandish Proverbs is at the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin. Works are sometimes lent to exhibitions or taken down for restoration, so it is worth checking the museum’s website before you go.
Which print size to choose
The print keeps the proportions of the original: if they differ from the paper, the painting is centred with a white border and never cropped. More details in our size guide.
| A4 (21 × 29.7 cm) | shelves, desks and gallery walls |
|---|---|
| A3 (29.7 × 42 cm) | bedrooms, hallways and small walls |
| A2 (42 × 59.4 cm) | above a sideboard, chest of drawers or headboard |
Prints are made to order in the Czech Republic and reach the EU in 3 to 8 days, with no customs. Canvases are made in the USA and take about 2 to 3 weeks, with EU VAT included in the price.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Netherlandish Proverbs?
- The original is held at the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin.
- How big is Netherlandish Proverbs?
- The original painting measures 117 × 163 cm (height × width).
- Who painted Netherlandish Proverbs and when?
- It was painted by Pieter Brueghel the Elder in 1559.
- Can I hang a reproduction of Netherlandish Proverbs at home?
- Yes. The work is in the public domain, so it can be freely reproduced. We offer it as a matte print in A4, A3, A2 (from €18.99) and as a ready-to-hang canvas (from €55.99), with free shipping to the EU.
Updated 21 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Message us through the shop and we will fix it.
