Dood vecht tegen de mensheid, ca. 1707-1708 1610 - 1708

This is "Death Fighting Mankind," an engraving made around 1707-1708 by Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert. The image allegorizes death as a battle against humankind. It presents a chaotic scene, with Death personified leading an onslaught against a mass of people armed with spears, swords, and bows. The figures evoke a sense of societal breakdown, where traditional defenses against mortality have failed. Made in the Netherlands, a region deeply shaped by the Reformation, this work may reflect anxieties about mortality and morality. The print's densely populated composition and dramatic contrast invite viewers to consider the fragility of human life and the inevitability of death. Is it a commentary on the social structures of its time? To understand the print more fully, we can turn to period literature, theological texts, and accounts of social life in the Dutch Republic. Such resources help us interpret the work within its original context, revealing how art responds to and reflects the concerns of its society.