Death and the Gravedigger | Carlos Schwabe | 1895

Carlos Schwabe’s Death and the Gravedigger places an elderly labourer at the edge of an open grave, confronted by a dark-winged figure in a snow-covered cemetery. The apparition’s great curved wings enclose the encounter, their dense silhouette set against pale ground and the delicate tracery of bare branches. A small green flame provides a concentrated point of colour within the otherwise wintry palette. The gravedigger’s upward gaze connects the physical labour of burial with the sudden presence of the supernatural.

Schwabe’s precise treatment of the cemetery makes the visionary figure especially arresting: ordinary tools, cold earth and carefully observed trees belong to the material world, while the winged visitor seems to interrupt its familiar order. The work exemplifies Symbolism’s use of recognisable settings to explore experiences that resist literal description. Death appears as an intimate encounter rather than an anonymous catastrophe, giving the image its distinctive combination of stillness, solemnity and psychological tension.

Print: 

A premium quality heavyweight (200gsm) fine art print material with a smooth, clean finish. This museum quality paper is extremely consistent and works perfectly with large, full colour graphics or illustrations. The matte finish emphasises different highlights and tones in the source artworks; helping to create stunning works of art.

- All prints feature a 0.25 inch white border to ensure space for framing. 

Our Eco Credentials Include:

• FSC approved or sustainably sourced paper
• Printed using water based inks
• Local fulfilment reduces carbon emissions
• Contains no plastic

Sizes:

12 x 18 Inches = 30.5 cm x 45.7 cm

16 x 24 Inches = 40.6 cm x 61.0 cm