Zilveren schrijn van een overleden kind 1609 - 1672

This is Abraham Aubry's rendering of a silver shrine for a deceased child. The print confronts us with a stark composition of black and white, a formal contrast that immediately sets a tone of solemnity. The shrine, meticulously detailed, is structured in tiers, each adorned with cherubic figures and ornate carvings. Note the contrast between the still, recumbent figure of the child within the shrine and the dynamic scenes depicted above, suggesting a transition from earthly repose to celestial activity. This juxtaposition serves not only as a visual marker but also as a semiotic bridge between life and death. The use of perspective and scale manipulates our gaze, inviting us to contemplate the space within the shrine. The stark materiality of the engraving, with its dense blacks and sharp whites, challenges any sentimental reading, pushing us instead to consider the structural and symbolic framework of mortality. This is not merely a depiction of grief; it's an exploration of how we frame and understand death itself.