Scènes met de dood en de duivel 1843 - 1876

Editor: We’re looking at "Scènes met de dood en de duivel" or "Scenes with Death and the Devil," an etching and ink drawing on paper by Carel Christiaan Antony Last, created sometime between 1843 and 1876. It's full of bizarre little vignettes. What do you see going on in this fantastical artwork? Curator: It’s like stepping into a fever dream, isn't it? A wild carnival of human folly, populated by the Grim Reaper and his horned counterpart. The artist really crammed a lot of stories into one space; perhaps drawing on popular allegories. I’m particularly drawn to the top row - the couple on the far right. It almost feels like the devil is blessing their union. What's your reading of that scene? Editor: Oh, that’s interesting. I interpreted it as the Devil lurking and observing - maybe even manipulating their interaction. The skeletal figure pouring the wine at the table, however, screams inevitable consequences. Curator: Ah, the sweet and sour aftertaste of life! You see the drawing offers such an eclectic variety of snapshots—some humorous, some downright macabre. To me, it hints at the Romantics' fascination with the grotesque and their tendency to question society's hypocrisy. Last gives us this rather fascinating world, like Bosch visited a Victorian parlor. Editor: So, is this considered a political piece or simply social commentary then? Curator: I would venture to say it is both, possibly fueled by the political upheavals and anxieties bubbling beneath the surface during the time Last produced this work. Don't you think? It’s rather wonderful isn't it, how much we can infer from a few well-placed lines of ink. Editor: It really is. I didn’t expect such complexity from a piece that at first seemed like simple caricature. Curator: Precisely! It makes you wonder what other layers we’ve yet to peel back from this visual onion.