December: Oude vrouw bij kaarslicht Possibly 1645

This etching, "December: Oude vrouw bij kaarslicht" (Old Woman by Candlelight), was created by Albert Haelwegh in 1645, during the Dutch Golden Age. The artwork depicts an old woman, illuminated by a candle, holding a skull in her lap, suggesting the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. The scene is set in a dimly lit interior, emphasizing the melancholic atmosphere. The inscription at the top of the image features a date, “1645 December 29,” indicating this artwork is one of a series of prints dedicated to each month of the year. Haelwegh’s work, while often dark and macabre, also often incorporates classical symbolism.