The Haywain, central panel Hieronymus Bosch (1450-1516)

The painting depicts a chaotic scene centered around a giant haystack. A multitude of people, dressed in varied attire suggesting different social classes and professions, are scrambling over and around the haystack. Some are attempting to climb it, while others are pushing carts and wagons loaded with hay. The overall impression is one of worldly pursuit and a struggle for worldly possessions, symbolized by the hay itself.

Above the haystack, a group of figures are seated, including what appear to be angels and a procession of humans. This grouping, along with the depiction of Christ in a halo of light at the very top of the painting, suggests a divine perspective or judgment on the earthly turmoil below. The serene landscape in the background contrasts with the frenetic activity in the foreground, potentially highlighting the ephemeral nature of earthly concerns when viewed against the backdrop of eternity.

The subtexts of the painting are rich and open to interpretation, but broadly they relate to themes of human folly, sin, and the pursuit of earthly pleasures and wealth. The title, The Haywain, alludes to a medieval proverb: The world is a haywain, and everyone plucks what they can. This underscores the idea that people are so consumed by material gain and worldly desires that they are willing to trample over each other to acquire them, ultimately heading towards damnation without regard for spiritual salvation.

Specific elements contribute to this interpretation:

• The Haystack: Represents earthly wealth, material possessions, and transient pleasures. Its allure draws people in, leading to greed and conflict.
• The Scrambling Crowd: Symbolizes humanitys chaotic and often destructive pursuit of these worldly goods. The diversity of figures suggests that this folly is universal, affecting all walks of life.
• The Wagons: Being pulled in different directions, some towards the haystack and others away, might represent individuals making choices between worldly pursuits and potentially a better path.
• The Figures on Top of the Haystack: This group, including religious figures and possibly demons disguised as angels, might represent the illusions and temptations that accompany worldly success, or perhaps a commentary on how even religious figures can be corrupted or tempted by worldly power.
• The Depiction of Christ: His presence at the apex of the work serves as a reminder of divine judgment and the ultimate spiritual consequence of human actions.
• The Background Figures: On the right side, there are scenes of what appear to be revelry, music, and indulgence, further emphasizing the theme of carnal pleasures. On the left, there are scenes of religious procession and possibly penance, offering a contrast.

Overall, the painting is a moral allegory, a stark warning against prioritizing the material and the temporal over the spiritual and the eternal. It critiques the vanity and sinfulness of mankind, suggesting that by being so engrossed in the hay of the world, people are leading themselves towards hell, a theme that is fully developed in other panels of the triptych.