Vader Tijd geflankeerd door Memorie en Praktijk 1670 - 1675

Gerard de Lairesse created this print titled 'Father Time flanked by Memory and Practice'. The winged Father Time dominates the scene with his scythe, emblems of mortality. Memory, with her book and faithful dog, and Practice, leaning on her staff and compass, flank him. But look closer: the scythe, wielded by Time, appears in ancient agricultural rites, then reappears in mythologies as a tool of castration, and eventually becomes the symbol of Death itself. This symbol, heavy with meaning, reminds us how cultural memory morphs and adapts. The psychological weight of the scythe also transcends time; it is a manifestation of our collective anxiety about the relentless march of time. The cyclical nature of these images reveals a deep, psychological need to confront our mortality, and through art, culture, and memory, we continue to grapple with these timeless themes.