Nāve (‘Death’) by Janis Rozentāls

 Hello to all the lovely creatures out there!

Today we will be discussing about a painting I found particular interesting for a number of reasons I will be explaining to you in the rest of the post. The painting is called "Nāve" or "Death" in English, and it is a painting created by the Latvian painter Janis Rozentāls in 1897.

Now why I find particular interest in this painting you may ask. It is because of all the symbolism behind it. 

Nāve - Janis Rozentāls - 1897

The painting depicts a mother holding her dead child in her arms while a white clothed woman, holding a sickle has bent over , seemingly looking at the the baby. Based solely on the title of the painting we can assume that "Death" has come to take the child depicted in the painting, with her. Now, what I'd like to point out is that this painting was actually created based on Latvian mythological themes, something that Western audiences might not be familiar with. 

Death in Latvian mythology is a goddess called "Vełu māte" (literally translates to "Mother of Death") and she is always wearing white. In Latvian mythology the white colour indicates death, rebirth, the world of the dead, and everything else related to death, that we can also notice at the child, that is similar dressed in white. Death is holding a sickle in her hands, similar as the scythe in the Western images, that is used to symbolise that life has been cut short. Death leans over the child and her facial expression (she sneers) shows that she is happy to take the child. Death is also depicted with bare feet, because the artist wants to show the very close relationship between death and nature, as she comes from nature. The path Death stands on, belongs to her and she comes out of the woods to take the child. Thus, the mother of the child was waiting for the goddess. The woman, who is holding the child, has a very simple outfit and hairstyle, and Latvian traditional footwear showing that she comes from the peasant class. Her facial expression shows that she does not want to give away her child. She is angry and is looking straight at death but at the same time leaning back away from her.

Now, as I mentioned earlier, people from other cultures may not recognize the symbolism in this image or understand its meaning. In most Western paintings, Death is portrayed very differently—often associated with the color black, skeletons, a scythe, and scenes of distress, agony, and sorrow. These elements make Death instantly recognizable.

Death and the Maiden - Marianne Stokes - 1908

However, in this image, we see a woman dressed in white— a color typically linked to purity or goodness—gently smiling at the child. Even the mother’s reaction is unusual; while she appears angry and pulls away, there is a sense of calmness around her, as if she accepts that this is an inevitable part of nature—something unchangeable and already reconciled with.

This depiction of Death is quite different, which is what makes it so intriguing. Instead of conveying grief, sorrow, or distress over a life lost, Rozentāls's painting presents Death in a more genuine way. There is a sense of calm, quiet acceptance—perhaps even mild annoyance. It was never a desirable outcome, but it is part of the natural cycle of life. Death is an inevitable part of this cycle, and everyone in the painting seems to acknowledge and accept it. The first time I encountered this painting, it lingered in my mind for a moment—precisely because of its profound symbolism. To me, it feels more authentic and serene, even humane. There is something almost motherly about this portrayal of Death; she is gentle with the child, fulfilling her role not with cruelty, but with tenderness.

I think it would be wonderful to see more Western paintings embrace this perspective on Death. It would help foster a deeper understanding that Death isn’t necessarily something to be feared, but rather a natural part of life—something that comes with time. Everything has an end, so why not embrace the beauty of living a full and joyful life instead of fearing the unknown? 

Thanks for reading as always, see you in the next post,

xoxoxo