Remember, You Will Die

The long artistic tradition of the memento mori

We’re heading into the darkest days of the year, so maybe it’s only natural that my attention this week has turned toward the macabre. Winter is the season of death, after all — the leaves have all given us one last fanfare and most of the animals are gone. In winter, things are quieter, starker, clearer, colder. Perfect for contemplation.

Many cultural…