Ontwerp met doodshoofd en dieren 1724 - 1754

This is an ornamental design with a skull and animals, made by Balthasar Sigmund Setletzky in the 18th century. At first glance, we see a decorative structure, but peering closer reveals the grim reminder of mortality: a skull nestled amidst the flourishes. Setletzky, working in a time of immense social stratification, presents us with a visual paradox. Ornamentation and death are brought together. The elaborate design speaks to the aristocratic love for display, while the skull serves as a levelling force, indifferent to status or power. The animals incorporated into the design further complicate this interplay, perhaps representing the wild, untamed aspects of life and death. In its emotional resonance, the design prompts us to reflect on our own relationship with mortality, asking how we reconcile the desire for beauty and permanence with the inevitability of decay. It's a potent reminder that beneath the surface of life's pageantry lies the stark reality of our shared destiny.