W.H. Auden's poem "Musée des Beaux Arts" is a reflection on human suffering, apathy, and the nature of art. Written in 1938, the poem was inspired by Auden's visit to the Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels, where he saw various works of art, including Pieter Bruegel the Elder's painting "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus."
"Musée des Beaux Arts" was written during a period of political and social upheaval in Europe, just before World War II. The poem can be seen as a commentary on the widespread apathy and detachment of society in the face of impending disaster and human suffering.
Year-wise PYQs
