Double Portrait with Skeleton 1916

This etching by Lovis Corinth presents a double portrait, hauntingly juxtaposed with symbols of mortality. The skull looming behind the subjects evokes the ancient "memento mori" tradition, urging us to remember our inevitable end. This motif of the skull, a stark emblem of death, has echoed through art history. We see it in medieval vanitas paintings and danse macabre imagery—a grim reminder of life's transience. Corinth’s modern interpretation places this symbol alongside portraits of living men, underscoring a poignant awareness of our mortality. It's a visual representation of the subconscious human awareness of death, a concept rooted deep in our collective memory. The psychological impact is palpable; the artist, perhaps grappling with his own mortality, compels us to confront our anxieties about death. This artistic choice engages us on a primal, emotional level, highlighting the non-linear, cyclical nature of these symbols as they resurface, evolve, and gain new meaning throughout history.