Overwinning op de Dood 1601 - 1667

This small, anonymous etching presents a powerful allegory. Here, an angel, radiant with divine light, stands triumphant over the skeletal figure of Death. She carries the holy book, a symbol of divine knowledge and truth, while she rests one arm on the cross, a potent symbol of sacrifice and redemption, deeply rooted in Christian iconography. The image evokes a long tradition of depicting the struggle between life and death, seen across cultures from ancient Egyptian tomb paintings to medieval morality plays. The motif of the angel subduing death reminds us of classical depictions of winged victories, yet here transformed by Christian belief. The angel’s gesture of holding up the book can be linked to similar depictions of authority, echoing the classical orator but charged with religious significance. These symbols are not static; they evolve, reflecting changing societal anxieties and hopes. This image, in its stark simplicity, powerfully conveys the eternal human yearning to transcend mortality, a sentiment that resonates across time and cultures.