Death's Coat of Arms 1651

Wenceslaus Hollar's "Death's Coat of Arms" (1651) is a powerful etching that contemplates mortality and nobility. The image features a coat of arms with a skull and serpent as its central motif, held aloft by skeletal hands. A man and woman stand on either side, seemingly contemplating the fleeting nature of life, symbolized by the hourglass held by Death. Hollar's meticulous detail and somber tone make this a captivating reminder of life's inevitability. The etching is a prime example of the 17th-century fascination with memento mori, a theme that served as a stark reminder of death and the shortness of life.