Death and the Miller

This painting shows Death as a skeleton entering a miller's room. It reminds us that life is short and we should think about how we live.

What do you see?

You see a room where a man is lying in bed, very sick. A skeleton is walking in through the door. The skeleton is Death. The man is a miller – someone who grinds grain to make flour. There are also other people in the room, maybe his family or friends. The painting feels sad and serious.

Look closely

Look at the skeleton's face. What do you think it is feeling?
Find the miller's hands. Are they holding something?
What objects do you see in the room? Why do you think the artist put them there?
Notice the colors. Are they bright or dark? How does that make you feel?
Look at the expressions on the other people's faces. What might they be thinking?

Style and technique

This painting was made by Hieronymus Bosch, a Dutch artist from the 1500s. He used oil paint on a wooden panel. Bosch is famous for his detailed and imaginative style. He often painted religious and moral scenes with many small symbols. In this painting, the skeleton and the dying man are symbols that teach a lesson about life and death.

Feeling

This painting might make you feel a little scared or sad. That's okay! The artist wanted you to think about important things: that life is precious and that everyone dies. It's a reminder to be kind and live well.

Connections

Try this

Draw your own picture of something that reminds you that life is short. It could be a candle, a flower, or an hourglass. Think about what you want to show.

Next to find

Find another painting by Hieronymus Bosch. What strange creatures do you see?
Look for a vanitas still life with a skull, candle, or wilting flowers.
Find a painting that shows a happy scene about life. How is it different from this one?

死神与磨坊主

这幅画展示了死神以骷髅的形象进入磨坊主的房间。它提醒我们生命短暂，应该思考如何生活。

你看到了什么？

你看到一个房间，一个男人躺在床上，病得很重。一个骷髅正走进门。这个骷髅就是死神。这个男人是磨坊主——磨谷物做面粉的人。房间里还有其他人，可能是他的家人或朋友。这幅画让人感到悲伤和严肃。

仔细看

看看骷髅的脸。你觉得它在想什么？
找到磨坊主的手。他手里拿着什么吗？
房间里有哪些物品？你觉得艺术家为什么把它们放在那里？
注意颜色。它们是明亮的还是暗淡的？这让你感觉如何？
看看其他人脸上的表情。他们可能在思考什么？

风格与技法

这幅画由希罗尼穆斯·博斯创作，他是一位16世纪的荷兰艺术家。他在木板上使用油画颜料。博斯以其细致和富有想象力的风格闻名。他经常画带有许多小象征的宗教和道德场景。在这幅画中，骷髅和垂死的人都是象征，用来教导关于生死的道理。

感受

这幅画可能会让你感到有点害怕或悲伤。这没关系！艺术家想让你思考重要的事情：生命是宝贵的，每个人都会死。它提醒我们要善良，好好生活。

联系

试试这个

画一幅你自己的画，提醒你生命短暂。它可以是一支蜡烛、一朵花或一个沙漏。想想你想表达什么。

下次寻找

找另一幅希罗尼穆斯·博斯的画。你看到了哪些奇怪的生物？
寻找一幅虚空派静物画，里面有骷髅、蜡烛或枯萎的花。
找一幅展示快乐生活场景的画。它和这幅画有什么不同？

Death and the Miller死神与磨坊主