MEMENTO MORI

Based on Paula Wildhack’s 1894 Memento Mori, this embroidery recreates a haunting late-19th-century still life of a human skull surrounded by aged books, an open Bible, a crucifix, prayer beads, flowers and a fading candle. Each object carries the traditional symbolism of memento mori — a reminder of mortality, the passing of time and the temporary nature of life. Wildhack’s dark, contemplative composition turns beautifully into detailed embroidery, preserving the quiet and slightly unsettling mood of the original painting.