The Art of Death

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” - Ecclesiastes 9:10 kjv

Vanitas-Allegory of Human Life or Still Life with a Skull, Philippe de Champaigne 1646

I thought that I was quite done with such serious topics here, but once this idea got in my head, I couldn’t shake it.

You see, over the past couple of years, I’ve lost a parent, a beloved pet, and a host of friends who have gone too soon.

This has inevitably caused me to reflect on my own mortality and what it will mean to my family and myself. Don’t get me wrong- I’m not quite ready for the Upper Room just yet.

As a young boy, I was always curious about the nature of things-I remember asking my grandmother, "How long do we live?" and "What happens when we die?" Her answer was simply.

"You have a long time, you don't have to worry." Not only was that answer unsatisfactory, it didn't address the fact that death isn't some far-off event fixed in the future; it's something that is ever-present, following us at every turn like a ghastly shadow.

from the 1999 film Life, featuring Eddie Murphy as Rayford Gibson saying "The upper ROOOOOOM!!!". 

Since the beginning of recorded history, humanity has struggled with the reality and concept of death. For example, the Danse Macabre, or Dance of Death, which emerged in the medieval ages, was an allegorical artistic theme depicting death personified as leading a procession of people from various social backgrounds in a dance towards the afterlife or grave.

Danse Macabre, Michael Wolgemut, 1493

The outbreak of the Bubonic Plague in Europe during the late Middle Ages and the intense suffering it caused undoubtedly contributed to the cultural preoccupation with death. Evidence suggests that the 'Dance of Death' was performed in villages, with performers dressing up as corpses.

Danse Macabre as depicted in the 1957 existential fantasy film The Seventh Seal by Ingmar Bergman

Beyond the Middle Ages, though, mankind has continued to be mystified and concerned with the process of cessation of life.

Few artworks convey the emotion of facing the looming presence of death as effectively as Van Gogh’s Sorrowing Old Man (At Eternity’s Gate). Van Gogh recreated this piece from an earlier work, a pencil sketch titled Worn Out.

The piece becomes even more poignant knowing it was finished just a few months before Van Gogh's death on July 29, 1890, during a period of declining mental health.

Sorrowing Old Man (At Eternity's Gate), Vincent Van Gogh, 1890

As I mentioned earlier, I've always been fascinated by existential topics from a young age. As a teenager, I created a comic strip titled The Lighter Side of Death starring Dead Fred. Fred was simply a skeleton depicted relaxing in his grave, surrounded by modern comforts such as a TV, a bed, and a bookshelf filled with reading material for when he inevitably grew bored. However, Fred's eternal rest was frequently interrupted by various mishaps, such as when a dog dug him up, mistaking his femur for a soup bone.

Death can undoubtedly signify more profound meanings beyond the simple end of life. It can represent the conclusion of a relationship, the cessation of a lifestyle, a career, the downfall of a society, and more. With this in mind, I felt inspired to write a poem in 2010 titled The Death of Eros. Eros is the Greek god of romantic love (and sex), but the poem explores other (positive) aspects of life that I believe are at risk of dying off. Reflecting on this poem now from the perspective of 2025, I realize how remarkably prescient it was at the time.

The Death of Eros, oil on canvas, 2010

Romance is gone,

The crude ones have killed it away.

Ignorance and rudeness,

Now hold sway.

Gone is true passion

From the human soul.

The love of the many

Has now waxed cold.

Chivalry is gone;

Replaced by bigotry and hate.

An open mind,

Shares romance’s fate.

How I long for

The gentle pastimes of yore;

Of cruelty & tyranny

Before they were.

Now I sing only this dirge,

This sad, sad song.

Chivalry is dead,

And romance is gone.

As I mentioned earlier, my Mother passed away a couple of years ago. Now, her empty house sits quietly, slowly dying its own death. It's painful to see this, remembering that this home once contained so much love and laughter. Now it's only a skeleton housing memories of a time now past. Even so, life must go on. To sum up, another quote from Ecclesiastes 11:8: "For if a man should live many years, let him enjoy them all".-nwt. In other words, make the best of your life-it's a short ride, after all.

I'll be back next time, hopefully still alive and well, with something completely different. Hope to see you there.