Pieter Bruegel the Elder is internationally acclaimed as the greatest 16th century painter in the Netherlands. The 450th anniversary of his death was celebrated in 2019. The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna organized the largest ever exhibition devoted solely to this artist. Here, researchers were able to study Bruegel's work in detail and this resulted in the bestseller Bruegel - The Hand of the Master. This essay volume is an addition to that publication and commemorates the 450th anniversary of the death of Pieter Bruegel the elder. The analysis of Bruegel’s compositions and what he actually depicted (objects, clothes, gestures) is seen within the wider context of the life and times of the artist and his patrons. Bruegel’s inventions and stories create artworks with a timeless power, and this volume, containing 24 articles and more than 500 illustrations, provides a comprehensive survey of the artist’s oeuvre and will be an indispensable resource for lovers of Bruegel's work and scholars alike.