Marskramer en de Dood 1524 - 1538

Hans Holbein the Younger's "Marskramer en de Dood" (Merchant and Death) is a powerful woodcut from the early 16th century, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. The piece depicts a merchant overwhelmed by Death, represented as a skeletal figure, who carries a basket of the merchant's worldly possessions. The stark contrast between the merchant's desperation and the skeletal figure's stoicism serves as a stark reminder of mortality and the fleeting nature of material wealth. This woodcut is a prime example of Holbein's mastery of detail and powerful symbolism, which made him one of the most prominent artists of the Northern Renaissance.