Vlakdecoratie met een vogel met gespreide vleugels op een baldakijn c. 1525 - 1594

This "Vlakdecoratie met een vogel met gespreide vleugels op een baldakijn" was etched by Hans Sibmacher around 1600. Notice the bird with outstretched wings which dominates the scene from above. This motif can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where birds often symbolized the soul, freedom, or divine messengers. Here, the bird's placement above a baldachin suggests a connection to both the earthly and the spiritual realms. We see the winged skull, or death's head, below. Its presence is a 'memento mori', a reminder of mortality. This symbol is not unique to this time, it is also prominent in antiquity where the skull appears in Roman floor mosaics for example. This artwork engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level through the bird, which conveys a sense of hope, and the death’s head which creates fear. This cyclical progression—from life to death and back again—resonates through time, evolving and resurfacing in various cultural contexts.