Allegory of Transience 1705 - 1754

Jacob de Wit's etching "Allegory of Transience" (1705-1754) is a complex composition that uses allegorical figures and objects to represent the ephemeral nature of life. The etching depicts three cherubs, one of whom is blowing a soap bubble, a symbol of the fleeting beauty of life. Around them are objects associated with both art and science, such as a globe, a palette and brushes, and a book, suggesting the fleeting nature of human knowledge and achievement. The use of vanitas imagery, such as the skull, reinforces the theme of mortality, making this etching a powerful reminder of the transience of life.