The Long Rest 1883 - 1884

Elihu Vedder’s “The Long Rest” (1883-1884) is a haunting depiction of mortality. The central figure, a draped female, stands on a threshold, her back turned to the viewer. The poem accompanying the drawing reinforces the theme of mortality, with lines like “Dust into Dust, and under Dust, là lie, Sans Wine, sans Song, sans Singer, and-sans End!” The artist’s masterful use of pen and ink creates a sense of melancholy and introspection, capturing the fleeting nature of life. The image is a powerful reminder of the inevitability of death and the importance of living each moment to its fullest.