Dance of Death III
1562
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1562
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dance of Death III is a 1562 ink by Allaert Claesz, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows three figures in fancy clothes, dancing or leaning toward each other. The person on the left holds a staff with a skull at the top, while the one in the middle wears a loose dress and holds a small object. The figure on the right has a tall hat and a bag slung over their shoulder, with a bird perched nearby. The background has a few buildings and a church spire, but the focus is on the three people. The skull on the staff is a quiet detail—it hints at something deeper than just a dance. This piece is part of a series called *Dance of Death*, where death itself seems to be part of the scene. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like Claesz made detailed prints like this.
