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.

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.

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.