Dance of Death: The Old Woman

Hans Holbein the Younger

Cleveland Museum of Art

Black and white woodcut image of a dancing skeleton wearing a wreath and holding a pitchfork in one hand and a shovel or spade in the other. The skeleton appears to be dancing on a dirt path with its right leg lifted. Facing the skeleton is an old woman. She has her head bowed and her back slightly arched. She supports herself with a walking stick held tightly in her right hand. She wears a long dress and a head covering. A line of trees appears on the right side of the image. The background includes a cloudy sky. The image is bordered with a simple line and includes German text at the top.