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Albrecht Dürer
Knight, Death, and The Devil
1513. Engraving. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

This is one of my favorite pieces of art. Dürer demonstrates the ever present concept of death, and evil. This fantastical account demonstrates his skill as a master printmaker and artist. Also, the interaction between man and theses personifications of death and evil. The dynamic representations add both to the tone and value of the composition. The knight is protected by his faith against the evils of the world. Like the Vanitas items the ephemeral aspects of our life are represented in the hourglass.