Cartouche met lijkwade aan boomtakken en twee skeletten 1647

This etching by Italian artist Stefano della Bella, created in 1647, depicts a cartouche, or decorative frame, adorned with two skeletal figures and draped in a shroud. The skeletons are perched on tree branches, their bony forms emphasizing the fragility of life. The shroud, a symbol of death, hangs from the branches, enveloping the cartouche in a somber atmosphere. The detailed lines and hatching of the etching contribute to its melancholic tone, reflecting a Baroque fascination with mortality. This work, now part of the Rijksmuseum's collection, serves as a poignant reminder of life's ephemerality.