Dance of Death: The Abbot

Hans Holbein the Younger

Cleveland Museum of Art

Black and white woodcut image of a man in a hooded robe being led to dancing skeleton under a tree; text across top of image. The image shows a man wearing a long robe and hood, and a skeleton playing a flute. The man looks shocked or fearful as he walks to the left with the skeletal figure. The skeletal figure is on the left, wearing only a loincloth and has a very long neck and limbs. The skeletal figure holds a flute to its mouth with its right hand and grasps the man's robe with the left hand. The man's right arm is raised and his hand grasps the skeletal figure's wrist. The skeletal figure appears to be dancing, with the left leg raised. The background includes a tree to the right and sky with lines to indicate clouds. The text at the top of the image reads "Der Apt." The image is bordered by a thin black line. The image appears to be on a textured surface such as paper or card.