Laughing Fool | Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen | 1500

Laughing Fool, circa 1500. Attributed to Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen. This unsettling early sixteenth-century painting presents a grinning fool whose laughter feels more grotesque than joyful. Clad in a jester’s costume and partially shielding his face, he exposes a toothy, almost manic smile, while a faint, ghostly figure lurks behind him in the darkness. The sharp realism of the features and the claustrophobic closeness of the composition transform comedy into something deeply ambiguous, suggesting folly, madness, and moral corruption. The work stands as a haunting meditation on human vanity and the thin line between humor and unease.

Print:

A premium quality heavyweight (200gsm) fine art print material with a smooth, clean finish. This museum quality paper is extremely consistent and works perfectly with large, full colour graphics or illustrations. The matte finish emphasizes different highlights and tones in the source artworks; helping to create stunning works of art.

- All prints include a small 0.25 inch white border to ensure space for framing.

Our Eco Credentials Include:

• FSC approved or sustainably sourced paper
• Printed using water based inks
• Local fulfilment reduces carbon emissions
• Contains no plastic

Sizes:

8 x 12 Inches = 20.3 cm x 30.5 cm 

12 x 18 Inches = 30.5 cm x 45.7 cm

16 x 24 Inches = 40.6 cm x 60.1 cm