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Adam and the skeleton of Death uprooting a tree
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Adam and the skeleton of Death uprooting a tree
Condemnation to Labour: Adam and the skeleton of Death uprooting a tree, while Eve suckles a baby and holds a distaff. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Wenceslaus Hollar from The Dance of Death by Hans Holbein, Coxhead, London, 1816
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Media ID 23194136
© Florilegius/Mary Evans
Adam Condemnation Distaff Hans Holbein Hollar Hourglass Labour Roots Skeleton Wenceslaus
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Condemnation to Labour - A Haunting Reminder of the Transience of Life
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative image, titled "Condemnation to Labour," is a handcoloured copperplate engraving by the renowned artist Wenceslaus Hollar, based on Hans Holbein's iconic series, "The Dance of Death." The haunting scene depicts Adam, the first man, and the skeleton of Death collaboratively uprooting a tree, symbolizing the relentless passage of time and the inevitable labor that comes with it. Adam, clad in a loincloth, is shown with sinewy muscles straining as he digs his hands into the earth, while the skeleton of Death, with its bony fingers intertwined with Adam's, provides the necessary leverage. The tree, once a symbol of life and growth, is now being torn from the ground, a stark reminder of the futility of resisting the inexorable march of time. In the background, Eve, the first woman, is shown tenderly nursing a baby while holding a distaff, an instrument used for spinning wool, symbolizing the endless cycle of labor and creation. The hourglass at her feet underscores the fleeting nature of time, as the sands of life slip away. This haunting image serves as a poignant reminder of the human condition, where labor and toil are an inherent part of life, and the relentless passage of time is an ever-present companion. The intricately detailed engraving by Wenceslaus Hollar, with its rich handcolours, only adds to the depth and complexity of this thought-provoking work.
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