Judith Leyster, Dutch (active Haarlem and Amsterdam), 1609-1660 – The Last Drop Philadelphia Museum of Art

The composition presents a stark confrontation between life and mortality, rendered with dramatic chiaroscuro. A seated figure, partially obscured in shadow, holds a human skull prominently within view. This skeletal presence immediately establishes a memento mori theme – a reminder of the inevitability of death. The figure’s posture suggests a contemplative acceptance, or perhaps resignation, to this reality.
Adjacent to him stands a young man dressed in vibrant red attire. He is depicted in a state of revelry, holding aloft a glass and a lit pipe. His expression conveys a carefree enjoyment of lifes pleasures, seemingly oblivious to the grim presence beside him. The bright color palette used for his clothing contrasts sharply with the somber tones enveloping the seated figure and the skull, further emphasizing this dichotomy. Scattered around his feet are discarded objects – a spilled drink and a broken pipe – suggesting a fleeting indulgence in ephemeral joys.
The artist’s use of light is particularly significant. A strong beam illuminates the young mans face and clothing, drawing attention to his vitality while leaving much of the scene shrouded in darkness. This technique creates a sense of theatricality, almost as if the viewer is witnessing a staged encounter between two opposing forces. The dark background contributes to this effect, isolating the figures and intensifying their symbolic weight.
Subtly, the painting explores themes of transience and the deceptive nature of pleasure. While the young man revels in his immediate gratification, the skull serves as an inescapable reminder that such enjoyment is temporary. Theres a sense of irony embedded within the scene – the vibrant life force seemingly unaware of its own fragility. The composition doesn’t offer a moral judgment; rather, it presents a visual meditation on the human condition and the complex relationship between pleasure, mortality, and awareness.