Artwork preview

The Comedy of Death

Rodolphe Bresdin

National Gallery of Art

This drawing depicts a landscape with skeletal figures, barren trees, a reflective body of water surrounded by roots and skulls, and skeletal remains on the ground. Twisted trees with anthropomorphic features hold dancing skeletons in their branches. Swirling clouds fill the sky, creating a chaotic atmosphere. The composition is detailed and imaginative, portraying death and decay.

Artwork Details

Date
1854
Medium
lithograph on western paper
Dimensions
3524 × 4949 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original