De rijke man en de Dood 1651

Wenceslaus Hollar's 1651 etching "De rijke man en de Dood" (The Rich Man and Death) is a powerful visual representation of the inevitability of death. The scene depicts a wealthy man, surrounded by his riches, being confronted by Death. The figures of Death and the wealthy man are dramatically contrasted, with the man's posture indicating fear and desperation, while Death stands calmly, holding a plate filled with coins. The imagery emphasizes the transient nature of material wealth in the face of the ultimate inevitability of death, a common theme in vanitas art.