The Death of the Gravedigger

This painting is known as “The Death of the Gravedigger” by Carlos Schwabe. The scene is within a graveyard covered with a thin layer of snow. The main visual is of an old gravedigger standing within a grave and looking up to an angel dressed in black. She holds a green light in her hand and it reflects on her neck. He holds his heart as he watches her, therefore the light signifies his soul the angel is taking. The gravedigger and angel clearly show death, but there is life surrounding them. In the forefront there are small buds growing out of the snowy ground and a tree branch cascades over them. In the background the graveyard looks calm and peaceful, the snow is untouched. Schwabe’s painting is clearly a part of the Symbolist movement. Many common Symbolist themes are present in this painting. Death is the major symbol and captures attention at first glance of the poem. Angels are another motif that is common to Symbolist work. The angel in this painting is representing death which is a unique technique at the time to connect death with angels and beauty. It is suggestive of ideas explored in a few of the Baudelaire poems that intertwine beauty with demise. The poses of the two main figures clearly show the emotions they feel. Understanding the emotions within is an essential part of Symbolism. The feeling of the painting is also heightened by the forefront being contrasted with the pure, calm snow behind. Carlos Schwabe was a Swiss-German Symbolist painter. This shows the effect that Symbolism had on the world. Schwabe studied for a time in France and developed his own sense of the Symbolist movement. In his painting he captures emotions through his powerful image.