De non en de Dood 1651

"De non en de Dood" (Life and Death), an etching created by Czech artist Wenceslaus Hollar in 1651, depicts a scene of mortality. The central figures are a man and a woman, with Death standing behind them. The man is dressed in opulent clothing, perhaps symbolizing worldly wealth, while the woman kneels in prayer, suggesting a spiritual focus. The scene is framed by elaborate columns with cherubs, skulls, and other allegorical symbols representing the passage of time and the inevitability of death. Hollar's etching, now housed at the Rijksmuseum, is a stark reminder of the transience of life and the power of faith in the face of mortality.