Death and the Bishop, from "The Power of Death" (Allegory of Original Sin and Death) 1541

This engraving was made in the mid-16th century by Heinrich Aldegrever. Here we observe a bishop, adorned in elaborate vestments, accompanied by the skeletal figure of Death, who holds aloft an hourglass. This symbolizes the fleeting nature of life, a potent reminder of mortality in the face of religious authority. The motif of Death and the Bishop echoes across centuries, seen in medieval morality plays and the danse macabre. The hourglass, an ancient symbol of time, reappears in countless vanitas paintings as a reminder of our inevitable end. One might compare this hourglass to similar symbols across cultures, each a variation on the theme of temporality. This image speaks to our collective anxieties about death and the afterlife. The bishop's imposing figure represents the power of the church, yet Death stands beside him, highlighting our shared fate. The engraving serves as a memento mori, urging viewers to reflect on their own lives and prepare for the inevitable. It is a powerful expression of the human condition.