A Young Man Seized by Death, from Hymmelwagen auff dem, wer wol lebt... 1517

Hans Schäufelein created this woodcut, "A Young Man Seized by Death," sometime in the early 16th century. It's an arresting image, part of a series illustrating the transience of life, a common theme during the Renaissance amid frequent plagues and social upheavals. Here, we see death, personified as a skeletal figure, embracing a young man. The man's fine clothes suggest a life of privilege, yet neither wealth nor youth can shield him from mortality. Schäufelein doesn't shy away from depicting death as an intimate, almost sensual encounter. The embrace is tight, a dance macabre where life and death are intertwined. The print serves as a stark reminder of our shared mortality, regardless of social status. But it also speaks to the complex relationship between life and death, fear and acceptance. How do we confront the inevitable? Schäufelein invites us to ponder this question, urging us to reflect on our own lives and legacies in the face of death.