Liefdespaar en de Dood 1590 - 1610

This anonymous etching, "Liefdespaar en de Dood", created sometime between 1590 and 1610, is a powerful reminder of the fleeting nature of life. The image depicts a young couple enjoying a moment of intimacy, unaware of the skeletal figure of Death lurking behind them. The inscription below the scene warns that "life is fleeting and vain" while Death is "always closer than we realize". The artwork is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.