Death dance as seen in the laudable city of Basel, by Merian I (printed by) (1621)

Death dance as seen in the laudable city of Basel, by Merian I (printed by) (1621)

Original title: Todten-Tanz, wie derselbe in der löblichen Stadt Basel zu sehen ist ("Death dance as seen in the laudable city of Basel").

"Death and the Empress; after Holbein the Younger; Death at left holding the right hand of the Empress at right; from 'Todten-Tanz, wie derselbe in der löblichen Stadt Basel zu sehen ist', Frankfurt: Merian, 1649; modern impression without letterpress. 1621". (Description from The British Museum webpage,
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1874-1212-432)

Gender perspective: The image of Death taking the hand of the Queen or Empress seems to be a future of herself in the future, of the same height and hair but in her shroud. The dominant way in which death takes her hand to compel her to dance or come along implies a male situation of dominance.

Merian, Matthäus I (printed by) (1593-1650)

The British Museum, London, UK:
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1874-1212-432

Archived in:
https://web.archive.org/web/20200710210928/https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1874-1212-432

© The Trustees of The British Museum
Asset number: 575557001
Museum number: 1874,1212.432

1621

Etching on paper.
Dimensions: 11.8 × 10.1 cm