Auch ein Todtentanz II
1849
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Alfred Rethel
Alfred Rethel (1816–1859) was a German artist, born in Aachen.
See the richer artist page1849
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Auch ein Todtentanz II is a 1849 ink by Alfred Rethel, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white engraving shows a lone rider on horseback charging toward a ruined city. The rider holds a spear and wears a hat pulled low, while the horse looks wild and untamed. In the background, a tall church spire stands among crumbling buildings, and a few small figures cower on the ground. The title *Auch ein Todtentanz II* hints this isn’t just a battle—it’s a grim dance of death, where the rider might be fate itself. The city looks abandoned, with smoke rising from the ruins, while the text below adds a poetic warning. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like Rethel carved intricate scenes into wood.
Alfred Rethel (1816–1859) was a German artist, born in Aachen.
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