Léo Schnug – Death

An ink drawing on paper by Léo Schnug (1878-1933), towards the end of his career.

In this late-life work, the Alsatian painter depicts an allegorical scene in which Death strides slowly up a slope towards a woman and her child. In the foreground, a man bearing a somber gaze is descending, passing by the grim reaper. A subtle composition play makes the scythe point to the man’s head. The melancholy of this passage of time-themed scene is amplified by the monochrome ink on paper and the tree hunching in the wind, with its broken branch echoing the scythe.

Period: c. 1920-1930

Dimensions:
Height: 30.5 cm
Width: 22.5 cm

Dimensions with frame:
Height: 34.5 cm
Width: 26.5 cm

Condition: Good.