To kranier og en arm. 1660 - 1663

This drawing by Karel van Mander III features two skulls and an arm rendered in careful detail. In European art, the skull is a potent symbol, a 'memento mori,' reminding us of the transience of life. The ‘memento mori’ motif appears as early as the Roman times. It is a gesture that transcends mere anatomy and speaks to our collective awareness of mortality. Consider how this symbol persists: In ancient Roman triumphs, a slave stood behind the victorious general, whispering, "Remember, you are mortal." Observe the arm reaching, as if beckoning. The gesture reminds us of the Dance of Death, a late medieval allegory of the universality of death. Like the ‘memento mori,’ the Dance of Death evolved as a symbolic expression, urging us to reflect on our inevitable end. This image resonates not just as a study of anatomy but as a powerful force engaging our subconscious recognition of our own mortality. The visual language of death, ever evolving, continually resurfaces in the human psyche.