Vijftien aangezichten van een konijnenschedel before 1874

This is Bernhard von Gudden's unsettling composition, likely crafted in the late 19th century, presenting fifteen views of a rabbit skull. Skulls, across cultures, are potent symbols of mortality and the ephemeral nature of life. The arrangement of the skulls evokes a memento mori, reminding us of our inevitable fate. Throughout history, skulls have appeared in vanitas paintings, medieval art, and even ancient rituals, each time carrying this message. The rabbit, often associated with fertility and new life, is here stripped bare, its skull laid out for examination. This juxtaposition creates a tension, a psychological confrontation with the cycle of life and death. Note how the clinical presentation of the skulls, devoid of flesh and fur, invites a cold, analytical gaze. Yet, beneath this detached observation lies an emotional undercurrent, an acknowledgement of the fragility inherent in all living beings. Consider how this motif resurfaces, transformed, in modern art and literature, where the skull becomes a symbol of existential questioning and the search for meaning in a transient world.