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1567

Shrove Tuesday

Pieter van der Heyden

Flemish, c. 1530 - after 1572

This commentary on the temptation to behave badly during Carnival season takes place in a kitchen on Shrove Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday. The fool being shaved at far right is a visual pun on the proverbial expression “to shear the fool,” meaning to mock the fool. Near the shaved hair on the floor, a dog in fool’s garb dances to the music of merrymakers.

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