The Duke, from "The Dance of Death"
Original title: The Duke, from "The Dance of Death"
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many related Dance of Death depictions that present death as a menacing lone figure, this woodcut by Hans Holbein the Younger focuses on a duke whom death surprises in the midst of his retinue. The sheet belongs to the series 'The Dance of Death', created around 1526 and first published in 1538. At only 6.5 x 4.8 cm, it matches the small format typical of book illustration for the series.
Description
A skeleton with a long staff, from whose end a child dangles, forms the focal point. To either side stand men in sumptuous garments, their postures and expressions ranging from defensiveness to horror. A building with a balcony and clock fills the background. The layout has a mirror-like quality: the death figure in the middle, the figures evenly distributed. The black-and-white drawing remains detailed, with sharp contours and shading that result from the woodcut technique.
Context
Holbein cut the Dance of Death woodcuts around 1526, during his first stay in Basel. They appeared in print in Lyon in 1538 and quickly became known through their wide circulation. The motif of the Dance of Death was widespread in the late Middle Ages and demonstrated the transience of all earthly things and the equality of estates in the face of death. Within the 41-image series, the duke scene occupies a position that strikes social-critical notes.
Impact
The clear lines and symmetrical arrangement give the sheet a quiet but emphatic presence. Sumptuous fabrics meet the naked skeleton, creating an ironic tension that prompts reflection on power and mortality. Architecture and figures are so richly differentiated that Holbein's craftsmanship and his gift for capturing complex scenes in the smallest space become vividly apparent.
Technique
For the woodcut, the design was cut into a wooden block and then printed on paper. The extremely thin lines and hatching attest to a high precision of cutting, characteristic of Holbein's prints. The restriction to black and white and the stark contrast between the lines and the light paper are typical of this process and enhance the graphic effect.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)