Young Man with a Skull Lucas van Leyden

A fine impression of the first state (of two; New Hollstein b), printing very clearly and with a few small scratches in the plate. Trimmed outside the borderline on all sides, the borderline partly redrawn in black ink. Although the engraving has occasionally been interpreted as a possible self-portrait, the focus is not on the individual depiction but on the transience of life. With his gesture, the young man points to the skull – a traditional symbol of the finiteness of human existence. His elegant clothing and elaborate hat serve to emphasise the vanitas motif: worldly wealth and beauty are just as fleeting as life itself. – With smoothed-out, age-related creases, hardly visible on the front. A horizontal, closed tear along the right edge. Slightly thinned in the upper corners on the reverse, otherwise in good condition. | 1494 - Leiden - 1533 | 15.-18. Jahrhundert | Druckgrafik | Nummer: 25x2934

Estimate:£999.81

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