Sterfte door ziekte en pest onder de Leidenaren, 1574 1612 - 1614

This print by Willem de Haen depicts the ravages of disease during the siege of Leiden in 1574. Corpses and those afflicted are strewn about, while others prepare a shrouded body for burial. Note how the act of carrying the dead becomes a potent symbol that echoes through time. Think of ancient Egyptian processions, where the deceased were solemnly transported to their tombs, or even the somber funeral marches of the Middle Ages. In each case, the horizontal body is a poignant reminder of mortality. The grief-stricken figures surrounding the dead evoke a primal scene of mourning. These displays of raw emotion tap into our collective memory, resonating with the universal experience of loss and the subconscious fear of our own mortality. The image is a testament to the enduring power of symbols, which transcend time and continue to elicit profound emotional responses. The cycle of life, death, and remembrance, endlessly resurfacing in art across centuries.