Old Age and Death, from "The Course of Human Life" 1570

"Old Age and Death" (1570) is an engraving by Pieter Jalhea Furnius depicting the fragility of life. The print is part of a series illustrating "The Course of Human Life," a popular theme in Northern European art. Furnius uses detailed lines to depict a man kneeling in prayer before a table, surrounded by women in mourning and a vision of a celestial scene with a god above a globe. The engraving's emphasis on death, prayer, and the afterlife reflects the concerns of the Protestant Reformation and the growing influence of religious art in the 16th century. This work, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a powerful example of Furnius's mastery of engraving and his skill in conveying a sense of human mortality and the search for spiritual solace.