Artwork
Der Alt man (The Old Man)
Der Alt man (The Old Man) is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Hans Lützelburger. It dates from 1526 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created around 1526, *Der Alt man* is a woodcut print that forms part of a larger series on the Dance of Death.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1526, *Der Alt man* is a woodcut print that forms part of a larger series on the Dance of Death. The image depicts two skeletal figures moving through a landscape, one supporting a walking stick and the other a longer staff, set against a sky dotted with clouds and a backdrop of trees and rocks.
Subject & Meaning
The title, translating to “The Old Man,” signals a meditation on aging and mortality. By rendering the figures as exposed skeletons beneath ragged clothing, the work underscores the inevitability of death, a common theme in early‑16th‑century memento mori imagery.
Technique & Style
The print showcases the precise, fine line work characteristic of Hans Lützelburger’s block‑cutting. His skillful handling of the woodblock allows for delicate detailing of bone structure and the texture of drapery, while the composition balances stark figures with a softly rendered natural setting.
History & Provenance
Lützelburger, a leading Augsburg blockcutter active from about 1516, executed the design for this piece under the direction of Hans Holbein the Younger, who devised the overall Dance of Death series. The series remained incomplete after Lützelburger’s death in June 1526, leaving this print as a testament to his technical contribution.
Context
The Dance of Death motif circulated widely in the early Reformation era, reflecting societal preoccupations with death’s universality. This woodcut aligns with contemporary visual programs that paired moralizing texts with vivid images to remind viewers of life's transience.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hans Lützelburger (died June 1526), also known as Hans Franck, was a German blockcutter ("formschneider") for woodcuts, regarded as one of the finest of his day.
