Vanitasvoorstelling met kind en schedel (Hodi mihi kras tibi / Heden ik, morgen gij) c. 1550 - 1570

This engraving by Hieronymus Cock presents us with a complex meditation on mortality. The composition is structured around the stark contrast between youth and death. Observe the juxtaposition of the child-like figure, seemingly asleep, and the looming presence of the skull. The artist uses stark lines and contrasting tones to draw our eyes to these symbolic elements. The skull, a traditional 'vanitas' symbol, sits atop a ledge dominating the composition with its silent memento mori. Consider how the artist uses this imagery to destabilize our understanding of time and existence. The inclusion of an hourglass and the Latin inscription 'Hodie mihi, cras tibi'—'Today for me, tomorrow for you'—serves as a stark reminder of the transience of life. These visual and textual components reflect broader philosophical concerns about the fleeting nature of earthly existence. It challenges us to reconsider fixed notions of beauty and decay by linking them in one composition.