Final answer:
Brueghel's interpretation of the story of Icarus differs from Ovid's in the way it focuses on the everyday life of the people around Icarus and downplays the dramatic fall.
Step-by-step explanation:
The interpretation of the story of Icarus differs between Brueghel and Ovid in several ways. In Ovid's story, Icarus is warned by his father not to fly too close to the sun, but he ignores the warning and falls to his death. Brueghel's painting, on the other hand, focuses more on the everyday life of the people around Icarus, with the main event of his fall being almost hidden in the background. Additionally, Brueghel's depiction of Icarus's fall is much less dramatic compared to the elaborate descriptions in Ovid's story.
Pieter Brueghel's The Fall of Icarus, seemingly disregards the myth's tragic aspects, by pushing Icarus to the periphery of the work. The painting's emphasis lies on the mundane continuity of life, as exemplified by the bright red shirt of a plowman, who, along with other figures, pays no heed to Icarus's fall. Through this treatment, Brueghel conveys a stark moral: despite individual tragedies, the world at large remains unaffected, and life persists.
The contrast between Ovid's tragic focus and Brueghel's broader, societal perspective offers rich insights into the human condition, cultural narratives, and the transformative power of art.