BETWEEN IMAGES AND SYMBOLS: THE MEDIEVAL IMAGINARY IN THE WORK OF HIERONYMUS BOSCH

Abstract

This article analyzes the medieval imaginary in the work of Hieronymus Bosch, highlighting how his paintings function as symbolic condensations of the beliefs, fears, and hopes of medieval Christendom. The aim is to understand how the imaginary, interpreted through the works of  Le Goff, Schmitt and Baschet, is articulated in Bosch’s visual language, especially in The Garden of Earthly Delights and The Last Judgment. The method  is a bibliographical review, based on classical and contemporary texts from cultural history, art, and historical anthropology. The results indicate that Bosch not only reflects the medieval imaginary but also intensifies it, projecting it into dense and ambiguous visual narratives. It is concluded that his art constitutes a privileged expression of medieval culture, revealing spiritual, moral, and social tensions.