Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights and modern interpretation

Garden of Earthly Delights

Bosch's triptych is certainly a striking one. I am not however sure that I entirely agree with Williams' view of the painting from a modern viewpoint, or more specifically that Bosch was unwittingly "predicting" the horrors of modern times. My first problem with such an interpretation is the fact that the whole work should be seen not only in the context of each other - Paradise, the Garden, and Hell - but also in the context of the time when it was created. Bosch painted with a certain ideology and social construct in mind. Sex and all pleasures of the flesh were sinful and abhorrent. The Garden of Earthly Delights, the main painting, is therefore both an almost sad assessment of the world in its current state and a warning to the citizens of the world. Sin leads to Hell. The Garden of Earthly Delights is therefore meant to shock; a feeling of which the painting of Hell is then a culmination.

When viewed from a modern context, I believe that the Earthly Delights would charm rather than shock viewers. The figures in the painting are taking part of all the earth has to offer - a paradigm that is much more common regarding sex and other sensual pleasures today. Furthermore, the religious terror of Hell has somewhat diminished; we now have more practical concerns, such as leaving a sustainable heritage to our children.