Hendrick ter Brugghen: Heraclitus and Democritus (1628)

(Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Two separate paintings of Greek philosophers but as they are a set i made 1 image of them. To the left Heraclitus, to the right Democritus. Heraclitus is sometimes known as the "Weeping Philosopher" because of his contempt for humankind in general. Democritus is known as the "laughing Philosopher" because he was always cheerfull and was always ready to see the comical side of life or laughing at the foolishness of man. both are represented as each other counterpart: Heraclitus cries for the foolishness of man, Democritus laughs about it. Together, the pair of paintings gives a moralizing message: whether you laugh or cry, the world remains incurably foolish. Both paintings are from 1628.