The Ass at School

Pieter van der Heyden after Pieter Bruegel the Elder

National Gallery of Art

This print shows a chaotic classroom scene, with young students engaging in various activities, some appearing mischievous and inattentive. In the top left corner, a donkey stands on its back feet behind a desk, one of its front hooves resting on the surface next to a page of sheet music. Also on the desk is a lit candle and what appears to be a pair of glasses. In the center of the print, an adult figure in a long dress with a feathered hat is in the middle of a group of small figures. Some of the students hold sheets of paper or large books, while others interact with one another, making strange expressions, or sit in various buckets and baskets. Other objects fill the space, like low benches, vases, and discarded books. In the background, a tall figure appears to be standing in an enclosed space with a barred window.