Death and The Maidens 1872

Pierre Puvis de Chavannes' 1872 painting, *Death and the Maidens*, depicts a group of young women in a verdant meadow, seemingly oblivious to the skeletal figure of Death lying in the grass, his scythe abandoned nearby. The painting reflects the symbolist style favored by Chavannes, with its allegorical imagery and emphasis on mood and atmosphere. While the maidens represent the innocence and beauty of life, Death's presence serves as a stark reminder of mortality, a contrast that highlights the transient nature of existence. The painting's muted colors and simplified forms contribute to its ethereal and dreamlike quality.