Dance of Death: The Ploughman

1526

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Dance of Death: The Ploughman is a 1526 by Hans Holbein the Younger, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Hans Holbein the Younger
When & what style?: 1526 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This image depicts a woodcut print of a man ploughing a field with two horses. The scene is set in a rural landscape with rolling hills and a church in the background. The man is dressed in simple clothing and is focused on his work. In the foreground, the ploughman is shown in a dynamic pose, with his body leaning forward as he guides the horses. The horses are depicted in a realistic manner, with their muscles and movements captured in detail. The background of the image features a serene landscape with hills and trees, which provides a sense of depth and context to the scene. The level of detail and realism in this image is impressive, and it showcases the artist's skill in capturing everyday life in a rural setting. To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, look up Hans Holbein the Younger.