Naakt onderlichaam en hoofd van een kind c. 1663 - 1666

Giuseppe Maria Mitelli rendered this ink drawing of a child’s head and torso. Its pairing with a skull reminds us of the vanitas tradition, a meditation on the transience of life. But here, life and death are not in opposition. The juxtaposition of the child's form with the skull evokes more than just mortality. The child's downward gaze and the skull’s vacant stare summon contemplation. This motif echoes across centuries, seen in ancient Roman memento mori iconography, where skulls symbolized the brevity of existence. We see it again in Renaissance art as a reminder of life's fragility. It also speaks to the cyclical nature of existence – birth, decay, and perhaps, rebirth. Like the ouroboros, the snake that eats its own tail, this image suggests an eternal return. This interplay invites us to consider the interconnectedness of all things. It’s a visual echo of the human condition, resonating with our deepest fears and hopes, reminding us that life and death are but two sides of the same coin.