69 Adriaen Pietersz van de Venne – Time Passes, Death Approaches – Etching
This emblematic etching by Adriaen van de Venne comes from Christelycke Bedenckingen (“Christian Reflections”), a moralistic work by Jacob Cats. The circular composition shows a fashionable young man flanked by two allegorical figures: Time on the left, represented as an old man with wings and an hourglass, and Death on the right, depicted as a skeletal figure whispering in his ear. Above, the Latin motto reads Il tiempo va, la morte viene (“Time goes, death comes”), reinforcing the transience of life and the certainty of death.
The Dutch verse below, De Tijt die gaet / de Doot die komt (“Time goes / Death comes”), expands on the allegory with reflections on vanity, worldly distractions, and the importance of spiritual vigilance. The contrast between youthful confidence and the inevitability of mortality is a key theme in the emblem tradition, blending didactic text with tightly composed visual metaphor.
Adriaen van de Venne was one of the leading illustrators of the Dutch Golden Age, celebrated for his emblem books and moral engravings. His collaboration with Jacob Cats produced some of the most influential devotional and ethical imagery in 17th-century Northern Europe.
Artist or Maker:
Adriaen Pietersz van de Venne
Dimensions:
18 cm x 13 cm
Medium:
Etching on laid paper
Date:
17th Century
Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.
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