Old Couple and Death with Bagpipes

Werner van den Valckert Dutch

Not on view

The Old Couple and Death with Bagpipes is part of a pair of prints relating to the traditional theme the Dance of Death. In the pendant to this print, a frightening Death, his skull sprouting snakes, approaches a wealthy young couple who fight him as they protect their riches. In this print a poor, elderly couple have lived a long life and willingly follow a Death, crowned with a wreath, who leads them to the tune of his bagpipe. The Dutch painter Werner van den Valckert created a number of etchings early in his career. Several of these are genre subjects that comment on the foolishness of the world.

Old Couple and Death with Bagpipes, Werner van den Valckert (Dutch, The Hague, 1580/85–1627 Amsterdam), Etching with engraving; second state of four

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