The Miser, from the Dance of Death 1651 - 1800

Wenceslaus Hollar's etching "The Miser, from the Dance of Death" (1651-1800) depicts a miser in a state of terror as Death, skeletal and cloaked, calmly takes his hoard of coins. The scene, filled with chests and bags of gold, highlights the futility of material wealth in the face of mortality, a common theme in the "Dance of Death" series. Hollar's detailed, precise style, typical of the Baroque era, imbues the scene with a sense of realism and moral weight. This etching, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, continues to resonate with viewers today as a reminder of life's fleeting nature.