Artwork
Bridal Pair
Bridal Pair is an ink print by the Baroque artist Wenceslaus Hollar. It dates from 1651 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Bridal Pair is an etching created by Wenceslaus Hollar in 1651. The work features a couple in formal attire accompanied by skeletal figures, set against a simple background.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a bride and groom standing together, with a skeleton playing a lute behind them and another lying on the ground. The Latin inscription at the bottom, 'Me & te sola Mors separabit,' or 'Death will separate us alone,' underscores the inevitability of mortality, even in the context of love and union.
Technique & Style
Hollar employed etching to create the detailed scene, characterized by fine lines and a stark black-and-white palette. The technique allowed for a high level of precision, evident in the rendering of the figures and their surroundings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Wenceslaus Hollar (Czech: Václav Hollar (Czech pronunciation: ), German: Wenzel Hollar; 23 July 1607 – 25 March 1677) was a Czech engraver, etcher and painter.
