Memento Mori

I’ve been studying early American artwork over this past year. The artwork created by the colonists is as fascinating to me as any fantasy world. Their world was uncomfortable and often brutal. Their possessions were needed to survive, but they were made as artfully as any contemporary artist would.

“Memento Mori” was a common notion on the frontier, illness, predators and seemingly endless war was always around the corner. Based on the representation of “Memento MorI” on folk art of the time, this drawing combines the lowly colonist with is flintlock rifle with modern notions of the “headless horseman”, or our modern representation of death with his cloak and scythe.

This piece wasn’t made with a message or story in mind. For me, it was a fun drawing to make. The design has been popular online, sparking a recreation of the digital painting in watercolor and ink by request (below).

If you are interested in adding this illustration to your home, prints as well as stickers are available in my Etsy shop.