Each Moment Has Its Sickle n.d.

"Each Moment Has Its Sickle" is a pen-and-ink drawing by the English artist Charles Reuben Ryley (1747-1798), housed in the Art Institute of Chicago. The drawing depicts a somber scene of a man seated beneath a tree, watching a funeral procession move through the distance. The man's posture and gaze suggest his contemplation of mortality. Ryley, known for his melancholic and evocative style, captures the fleeting nature of life through the motif of the sickle, a symbol of death. This poignant artwork reflects the theme of mortality and the fragility of human existence, a recurring theme in art throughout history.