Bosch painted the piece somewhere between 1490 and 1510. Around the time there was significant pressure for artists to make art only about the christian religion otherwise it was seen as heresy. Without researching too deep into Boschs beliefs it is my interpretation of the piece that Bosch painted the piece to appease the church with its obvious religious undertones, however I think that there is much more to the painting that could highlight his thinking.

To start off, my interpretation is that the three panels of the painting represent three stages of humans on earth. The left painting showing three people are god creating Adam and Eve in the garden of eden or just on earth in general. I think this is meant to represent the human free of sin, and life that is peaceful. It is much less crowded than the other two panels giving it quite a tranquil feel. The middle panel I interpret as humans either discovering or actively partaking in sin and forbidden pleasures in life. There are lots of images of nudity, almost party like gatherings which have orgiastic undertones. This is people of earth sinning, which leads us to the final panel of hell. Naturally hell is where you go if you sin while on earth so the humans in the middle panel are now paying for their sins.  

Whilst it could be interpreted as a warning to those who sin, I believe that Boschs representation of the human life cycle reveals his feelings towards christianity. The main panel is filled with sin however I find it hard to find an image where the humans aren’t enjoying their time on earth as if Bosch thinks that it is a part of human life to sin and be joyous in sin, almost glorifying it. The left and central panel I believe are set on earth as they have the same background and scenery and what separates them is their devotion to god. However as we move our eyes to the last panel in hell, coincidence or not, a woman being punished has a very close resemblance to eve. I interpret this as showing that no matter how close you are to faith and follow the teachings of the bible, in the end everyone ends up in the same place. Everyone dies eventually and in this paintings case everyone goes to hell. This is a very nihilistic view of life which makes sense if we see Bosch as not being as religious a person as he portrays.