The Plowman 1525

"The Plowman" (1525) is a woodcut by Hans Holbein the Younger, renowned for his detailed portraits and masterful use of line. The image depicts a peasant plowing a field while Death, appearing as a skeletal figure, pushes the plow. The stark contrast of light and dark, and the use of bold lines, emphasize the inevitability of Death, even in the midst of life's daily toil. This powerful imagery reflects the anxieties of the time, particularly during the spread of the Black Death. The artwork serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the presence of mortality in all aspects of human experience.