| Almost all paintings of the time used visual tropes to impart a narrative, due to the fact that most of the general population was illiterate. Books were not yet made available to the public and sermons were in Latin so visual storytelling and instruction was key—the spiritual and moral message being: all are blinded by the pleasures of the haywain, we are all blindly following the herd and, if you don’t pay attention, horrible penance awaits! |