The Child, from the Dance of Death 1651 - 1800

Wenceslaus Hollar created this etching, "The Child, from the Dance of Death," in the 17th century, a period marked by widespread social and political upheaval, including the Thirty Years' War and devastating plague outbreaks. The image depicts an intimate scene disrupted by the intrusion of death, a skeleton, holding an hourglass, reminding us of the fleeting nature of life. A mother sits with her children; one, still an infant, is reaching towards death. This work exists within the "memento mori" tradition that sought to remind viewers of their mortality. The print poignantly captures a universal fear and anxiety of the period: the fragility of life, especially of children. It serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat of death. Hollar urges viewers to reflect on life's brevity and the importance of spiritual contemplation. The emotional impact of the print lies in its depiction of innocence confronted by mortality. The viewer is left contemplating their existence and the inevitability of death.