# The Old Garden of Sorrows

- By: Jan Toorop (Poerworedjo, 1858–1928)
- Date: 1889 - 1890
- Medium: paper, pencil, chalk
- Classification: drawing
- Dimensions: height 549 mm x width 657 mm
- Credit line: Purchased with the support of the Stichting tot Bevordering van de Belangen van het Rijksmuseum
- Museum: [Rijksmuseum](https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/object/RP-T-1977-13--d61a39d4ae6c904c87d4b4d1dd8f5e05)
- Rights: [Public Domain Mark](http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/)
- Picture: https://iiif.micr.io/SATCr/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

According to Toorop, the ‘Old Garden of Sorrows’ is the place where the Soul, here personified as a woman, resides temporarily prior to death. She walks through the walled garden, terrified. Death is symbolized by the skulls strewn on the ground around her and near the dilapidated garden gate. At the right, mourning phantom-like figures support the fountain of tears.