Who painted Dance of Death: The Countess?

Dance of Death: The Countess was painted by Hans Holbein the Younger in 1526.

Where can I see Dance of Death: The Countess?

Dance of Death: The Countess is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Dance of Death: The Countess?

Dance of Death: The Countess is associated with Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Dance of Death: The Countess?

Museum-quality prints of Dance of Death: The Countess are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Dance of Death: The Countess

Hans Holbein the Younger , 1526

Dance of Death: The Countess is a print by the Renaissance artist Hans Holbein the Younger. It dates from 1526 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1929.166
Credit line: Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland

About this work

Overview

Dance of Death: The Countess is a woodcut print created by Hans Holbein the Younger around 1526. It is part of a series of approximately 50 scenes depicting the Dance of Death, an allegorical theme.

Subject & Meaning

The print shows a noblewoman, identified as a countess by her attire, dancing with a skeleton. The skeleton holds an hourglass, symbolizing the inevitability of death and the passage of time.

Technique & Style

Executed in a Northern Renaissance style, the woodcut contrasts the countess's elaborate dress with the skeleton's tattered robe, highlighting the universality of death across social classes.

History & Provenance

The print is now held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, part of Holbein's influential series intended to prompt contemplation on mortality.