The Pedlar, from the Dance of Death 1651 - 1800

"The Pedlar," an etching by Wenceslaus Hollar, is a powerful depiction of the inevitability of death. The skeletal figure of Death, with its prominent skull and bony limbs, drags a burdened pedlar away from his wares. The pedlar's distressed expression, along with the inscription "Venite ad me omnes, qui laboratis & onerati estis" (Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden) from the Bible, emphasizes the universal nature of death's call, regardless of social class or occupation. Hollar's detailed and expressive style, characteristic of the Baroque era, creates a chilling and poignant commentary on mortality.