Laughing at You
In the early 1500s, the court jester was not just there for jokes. He was often the only one allowed to tell the truth. While nobles traded lies, the fool held up a mirror and said what no one else would.
Here, the laugh looks wild, but the pose says control. He hides his face, then peeks through his fingers to watch us. In his other hand are eyeglasses. He holds the power to see clearly, but he does not use it.
That is the point. We have the tools to see the truth, yet we choose not to. He is not laughing with us. He is laughing at us.
Laughing Fool, c. 1500
Painted by Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsane
Credits: noctorya
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