Triumph of Death c. 18th century

Curator: This print, "Triumph of Death" by Silvio Pomarede, presents a scene of mortality inspired by Petrarch. The composition seems quite stark, doesn't it? Editor: Indeed. The oxen dragging the cart of Death appear weighty, grounded in a material reality. Note the lifeless bodies strewn around; there is a very visceral feeling to the piece. Curator: Right, and consider the socio-political context of death imagery. This work engages with broader anxieties about disease, war, and mortality, particularly relevant during periods of social upheaval. Note how death is personified as a figure actively harvesting lives. Editor: I'm struck by the contrast. The crude rendering of the wheel seems almost primitive alongside the finer lines used for the figures. It points to the labor involved in reproducing these images, the intersection of craft and "high" art. Curator: Precisely, and the imagery challenges traditional power structures by depicting death as an inevitable force, regardless of social status or gender. Everyone succumbs. Editor: Looking closer at those oxen, I wonder about the artist's access to such animals, how they were rendered on the page, what that labor looked like? Curator: It all layers into this meditation on the fragility of life. Editor: A potent reminder, indeed.