Allegory of the Transience of Life

Master IAM of Zwolle. 1440-1504. Netherlands. Ferdinand Columbus (1488-1539) owned an impression of this print. Printmakers during the fifteenth century often produced prints that reflected on the nature of life. They reminded the viewer that all earthly glories and ambitions are futile, that Death is the final arbiter and one’s actions on earth have repercussions for the afterlife. This engraving is a particularly confronting treatment of the subject. In the centre, Moses holds the Tablets of the Law to emphasise that the Ten Commandments are the only true guide to salvation. Below, in a tomb, a corpse decomposes and turns into a skeleton. Digital Pigment on Bamboo Rag Paper. Framed Edition of 150. 22 x 18 1/4 (Frame) 15 1/4 x 11 1/2 (Image)