Een huis vol rouw 1581 - 1656

Nicolaes de Bruyn's "Een huis vol rouw" (House of Mourning), a 17th-century etching, depicts a somber scene of death and grief. The artwork draws inspiration from the biblical book of Ecclesiastes, as evidenced by the text at the bottom of the print. The scene, set within a humble household, features a lifeless figure on the floor, while others mourn around him. The artist utilizes the technique of chiaroscuro to emphasize the somber mood, with strong contrasts of light and shadow. The inclusion of everyday objects, like the tools and furniture, adds a sense of realism and suggests the universality of grief and loss. This artwork is a poignant example of the Dutch Golden Age's fascination with depicting the complexities of human emotions.