Dance of Death V 1562

"Dance of Death V" is a 1562 woodcut by Allaert Claesz., a Dutch artist known for his depictions of the "Dance of Death." This series of woodcuts portrays Death as a skeletal figure, often depicted as a jester, leading various individuals from all walks of life to their inevitable demise. In this particular print, Death, holding an hourglass, leads a woman adorned in lavish finery, highlighting the universality of death regardless of social status. Claesz.'s stark black and white imagery emphasized the solemnity of the subject, making it a powerful reminder of mortality.