Der Tod als Freund (Death as a Friend)

Alfred Rethel

National Gallery of Art

This is a print of a robed skeleton in a shadowy interior with an open window in the background. The skeleton is on the left, one hand grasping a large rope, and its head is turned downward, partially covered by a hood. The room is furnished with a staircase on the left and a table on the right with various objects on it, including a book, a pitcher, a cup, and a plate with a chunk of bread. Behind the table, an old man sits on a chair, facing the left. He has a long beard, a balding head, and his eyes are closed. His hands are in his lap, and a ring of keys hangs from his tunic. In the center of the print, an open window lets in light, revealing a distant landscape with a setting or rising sun. The print is detailed, showing the wood grain of the floorboards and beams. There is a line of text below the print.