Raven over the Hourglass – Symbolism of Transience

The tattoo depicts a raven sitting on top of an hourglass, from which blood is flowing. Around the hourglass, bare, tangled tree branches wind, creating a stark, dark composition. The raven symbolizes wisdom and mystery, and the hourglass the inexorable passage of time. The image as a whole expresses transience and the inevitability of death, which is also emphasized by the limited color palette, mainly black, white and subtle red accents.