Liggende putto met zandloper en schedel c. 1580 - 1601

This small, yet powerful, engraving by Zacharias Dolendo depicts a putto, a chubby, winged baby angel, sleeping against a tree, with an hourglass, a ram, and a skull in the foreground. A reminder of mortality, the skull is accompanied by the inscription "Memento Mori" - "Remember Death". This is a common theme in Northern European art, particularly in the late 16th century. The detailed hatching and crosshatching technique employed by Dolendo creates an intense chiaroscuro effect, highlighting the fleeting nature of life and the inevitable reality of death. The delicate lines and detailed rendering of the figure and surrounding landscape contribute to a sense of realism and the beauty of this 16th century print.