Fotoreproductie van Gelukkige tijd door Antoine Wiertz before 1868

Edmond Fierlants created this photogravure of Antoine Wiertz's "Happy Times". It depicts a sleeping mother and child while an angel floats above, holding an hourglass. The image is rich with symbols of time, mortality, and innocence, reflecting on the fleeting nature of life's joyful moments. The hourglass, overseen by the angel, suggests the inevitable passage of time, a motif found in vanitas paintings throughout the ages. Compare this to classical depictions of Chronos, the personification of time, often shown with similar attributes. Consider, too, the mother's repose—a serene image of maternal love and vulnerability, contrasting with the stark reminder of time's relentless march. This evokes a deep, almost primal recognition of life's duality, a theme that echoes through art history. The cyclical nature of these symbols—their constant resurfacing in various guises—reveals our enduring fascination with time, memory, and the human condition.