Allegorie van de dood 1610 - 1672

Michael Snijders created this engraving, Allegory of Death, in the 17th century. The image employs a visual language that comments on the social structures of the time. It’s a Memento Mori, a reminder of the inevitability of death and the transience of earthly life, reflecting the somber mood of post-Reformation Europe. The skeletons with scythes, skulls, and Latin inscription, "Memorare novissima tua," or "Remember your last days," form a direct reference to death. The surrounding border of flowers, fruits, and insects symbolize the fleeting nature of life and beauty. This work reflects the influence of religious thought on daily life, particularly in the Spanish Netherlands. Artists often operated within a network of religious institutions, creating art that served didactic and moralizing purposes. To fully understand this engraving, we can consult historical texts, religious documents, and studies of the art market. The engraving invites us to reflect on our own lives and values in the face of our mortality.