Triomflied over de Schilderkunst en de Dood (deel 2) 1660

This page, “Triomflied over de Schilderkunst en de Dood (deel 2)” or “Triumphal Song of Painting and Death (part 2)” penned by Henrik Jordis, showcases dense Dutch verse inscribed in ink, where themes of art, life, and mortality intertwine. Consider the allegorical figure of Death that appears in the poem, a motif with deep roots in the medieval ‘danse macabre.’ We see it evolve from grim reaper to melancholic symbol in later art. Think of Dürer’s "Melancholia I," where the winged figure sits amidst tools of creation, paralyzed by thought, embodying the artist's struggle with mortality and inspiration. This interplay of death and creative paralysis speaks to the collective anxiety surrounding the ephemeral nature of life and artistic achievement. The recurring image of death prompts us to ponder the cyclical nature of existence, how symbols resurface and transform across epochs.