Plate Four of Triumph of Death, Triumph of Divinity, Triumph of Poverty 1780

Editor: This is Christian von Mechel's Plate Four of Triumph of Death, Triumph of Divinity, Triumph of Poverty. It looks like an engraving, with four distinct scenes. The consistent presence of a skeleton figure gives it a rather macabre feel. What symbols stand out to you in this piece? Curator: The skeleton is the most obvious, representing death's inevitability, but note the figures’ reactions in each scene. Consider the ways in which power, religion, and poverty are visually confronted by mortality. How does the artist use composition to further reinforce these ideas? Editor: The way death interacts with each figure highlights their earthly obsessions and vulnerabilities. Curator: Precisely. And notice how the clothing or actions of the living figures, in the presence of death, convey a warning against earthly pride. What have you taken away from the images, regarding cultural memory? Editor: I see now that Mechel uses recognizable cultural symbols to warn us about vanity. Curator: Exactly. We see that death transcends social status and highlights the fleeting nature of worldly concerns.