De marskramer en de Dood 1651

Wenceslaus Hollar etched "The Peddler and Death," presenting us with a stark vision of mortality. Here, we see the Grim Reaper himself assisting a burdened peddler, laden with worldly goods, as a dog accompanies them. The peddler, gesturing outward, perhaps represents humanity's vain attempts to escape the inevitable. The figure of Death has been depicted across millennia, from ancient Egyptian psychopomps to medieval morality plays. This skeletal figure, often wielding a scythe, is not merely a harbinger of physical demise but embodies the finitude of human existence. The dog is a common symbol of loyalty and vigilance, but its presence here adds a layer of irony; even the most faithful companion cannot deter death. Note how the artist places the full skeleton at the bottom of the scene as if the peddler will join him soon. The image leaves us contemplating the cyclical nature of life and death. The symbols remind us that death accompanies us, whether we acknowledge it or not.