The Triumph of Death

Pieter Bruegel the Elder, The Triumph of Death, 1562

Pieter Bruegel the Elder's above painting The Triumph of Death displays the aftermath of a battle in a burning open field which seems have taken place on farmland. As far back as you can see in the distance, it looks barren and lifeless. The pile of dead bodies in the very front looks like they’re trying to be disposed of. This imagery of death depicts the result of war and the price a nation must pay to protect their freedom, justice, and progress. The pain and death revealed portray the dangers of modern life that people have become tolerant of. As an example, Germany’s people became desensitized to images of death and violence like this, not just through paintings, but other forms of art as well like film and literature. This kind of desensitization allows nations like Germany to deal with pain much better than others. They know the price of power is pain. Therefore, as mentioned by Junger, the state that endures the most pain, both inflicting and receiving, becomes the strongest one. This painting shows the dark truth of triumph and what it costs to be supreme. It glorifies death and shows how it's becoming more and more common with society which in turn makes it more tolerable for people to cope with.