The Armed Knight c. 16th century

Editor: This is "The Armed Knight" by Hans Holbein the Younger, held at the Harvard Art Museums. It has a serious tone. What sociopolitical context informs the imagery of death confronting a knight? Curator: Holbein's "Dance of Death" series, of which this is a part, was created amidst social and religious upheavals. How might the rise of the printing press have influenced the accessibility and impact of such imagery? Editor: It seems like it would have made the image of death much more widely seen and impactful. Curator: Precisely. The democratization of images allowed for broader societal engagement with themes of mortality and morality, impacting the public's relationship with both art and death. What do you take away from this? Editor: I hadn't considered how the printing press amplified the social commentary in art like this. Thanks!