Schets van de Dood met de zeis 1683 - 1722

This is Claude Gillot’s sketch of death with a scythe, made with pen in brown ink on paper. The drawing's sketch-like quality, with its loose lines and unfinished feel, destabilizes the traditional representation of death as a solemn, complete figure. The composition is divided into distinct sections, an upper area with amorphous marks and a lower area focused on figurative elements. This division challenges our sense of wholeness, leaving space for interpretation. Death, often depicted with stark finality, is rendered here with tentative strokes, stripping death of its imposing character and inviting a reflection on mortality. Gillot's sketch, rather than providing closure, disrupts fixed notions and encourages ongoing dialogue.