Innocence | Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach | 1900 17th Century Symbolist vision portrays a skeletal

Symbolist vision portrays a skeletal Angel of Death gliding silently above black water

was believed to lead to the Underworld

while its creation during the First World War reflects the fear

a fragile point of devotion within the decay

and the fallen angelic ideal

Innocence | Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach | 1900 17th Century Symbolist vision portrays a skeletalThis painting, "Innocence (Girl holding a Snake)" by Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach, circa 1900, depicts a serene and mystical scene. A young girl, with an ethereal glow, is seated in a dark, lush forest setting. The gentle light highlights her figure and the delicate greenery around her. A wreath of leaves adorns her hair, blending her presence into the natural surroundings. She holds a snake in her hands, which is often a symbol of wisdom or temptation in