The Moment of Birth 1902

"The Moment of Birth" (1902) by Austrian artist Alfred Kubin (1877-1959), is a haunting and symbolic depiction of the transition from life to death. A newborn baby floats in the air while a monstrous skeletal figure with large eyes, reminiscent of a crustacean, appears to be reaching out with its claw. The stark black and white imagery evokes a sense of unease and uncertainty, reflecting the anxieties of the fin-de-siècle. Kubin was a master of the macabre, and his work often explored themes of death, the supernatural, and the human condition. This chilling yet captivating work, "The Moment of Birth" remains a testament to Kubin's dark imagination and his ability to capture the unsettling beauty of the subconscious.