Self-Portrait with Fiddling Death | Arnold Böcklin

Self-Portrait with Fiddling Death (1872) by Arnold Böcklin is a haunting and symbolic self-portrait featuring the artist with a skeletal figure playing a violin just over his shoulder. This eerie yet masterful painting embodies themes of mortality and the fleeting nature of life, a hallmark of Böcklin’s Symbolist style. The artist’s expression is intense and contemplative, while the grinning skeleton, representing Death, plays its unsettling tune—a reminder of the ever-present spectre of fate. Rich in dark, moody tones and dramatic contrasts, this work encapsulates Böcklin’s fascination with the macabre and the metaphysical. Use the design tools to add custom text or personalise the image.