Ridder en de Dood 1524 - 1538

This engraving, titled "Knight and Death," was created by Hans Holbein the Younger. The stark black lines carve out a dramatic face-off, capturing the viewer's attention immediately. The composition places the fully armored knight and the skeletal figure of Death in dynamic opposition. Notice how Holbein uses linear precision to define form and texture. The knight, adorned with elaborate plumage and detailed armor, stands as a symbol of earthly power. Death mirrors the knight's stance with bony limbs and a grimace. This reflects the medieval concept of "memento mori," a reminder of the inevitability of death. The hourglass suggests that time is fleeting and the knight’s earthly power cannot last. This print invites us to consider the formal structure as a means of destabilizing established meanings, challenging the viewer to reflect on mortality.