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Auch ein Todtentanz VI

Alfred Rethel

1849

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century Allegory

Dominant colour

Auch ein Todtentanz VI is a 1849 ink by Alfred Rethel, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Alfred Rethel
When & what style?: 1849 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This painting depicts a dramatic scene with a skeleton riding a horse, surrounded by people in various states of distress. The skeleton is dressed in a flowing cloak and holds a sword, while the horse appears to be trampling over a person lying on the ground. In the background, there are buildings and other figures, some of whom seem to be fleeing or cowering in fear. The overall mood of the painting is one of chaos and destruction, with the skeleton and horse at the center of the turmoil. The use of dark colors and bold lines adds to the sense of drama and intensity. The artist's use of allegory in this painting invites the viewer to interpret the scene in a deeper way, perhaps seeing the skeleton as a symbol of death or destruction. To learn more about this style, explore the Romanticism movement.