Author(s): Samuel McNair

Art

After Bruegel is an illustrated dedication to the Flemish artists' work. Pieter Bruegel the Elder lived in 16th century Antwerp, as an artist he reflected the society in which he inhabited in his peculiar - even surreal - style. Emulating Bruegel's crowded, chaotic illustrative style Australian political cartoonist Samuel McNair has produced After Bruegel as a monograph in homage to the Dutch master. After Bruegel does not tell the reader any particular narrative; instead it invites the reader to find meaning through examination. The picture book urges the reader to engage their visual literacy, their ability to connect thoughts, images and language. No two readers will find the same experience.Included in After Bruegel are lists of proverbs, puns and idioms for the reader to find throughout the book, much in the same way as did Bruegel's Nederlandse Spreekwoorden (Netherlandish Proverbs) 1559. The illustrations make reference to contemporary geopolitical events, pop culture and personalities; some examples include COVID-19, BLM, Brexit, inequity, poverty, wealth, power, violence, Disney, Trump, Putin, Xingping, Johnson, Murdoch and many more.