Fotoreproductie van Een seconde na de dood door Antoine Wiertz before 1868

This is a photographic reproduction by Edmond Fierlants, depicting ‘One Second After Death’ by Antoine Wiertz. In this image, we see the figure shrouded in what appears to be a burial cloth, floating upwards amidst a cloudy backdrop. This motif of ascension, laden with spiritual connotations, can be traced back through centuries of religious art, echoing in the depictions of the Virgin Mary's assumption or Christ's resurrection. The simple act of shrouding a body in cloth is an ancient, universal symbol of mourning and respect for the dead, found in cultures across the globe. Over time, this image of shrouding has evolved, appearing in diverse contexts, from the religious to the secular, carrying with it the weight of collective memory and the subconscious. The emotional power of this image lies in its ability to engage us on a deep, subconscious level, resonating with our primal fears and beliefs about mortality and the afterlife. This symbol of ascension reminds us of the non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols, continually resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.