Browse Items (200 total)

Original title: Dans van de Dood ("Dance of Death").This painting by Gestina ter Borch (image 1) was inspired by a lost design of a dagger by Hans Holbein the Younger. Image 2 represents another copy of Holbein's design by unknown (1523, c.). Images…

The image represents the Heathen and his wife on the left holding hands. On the right, a skeleton with a veil and breasts looks at the couple and holds the Heathen's hand. The skeleton is thus represented as female but attends to both genders the…

The image represents a skeleton dragging a woman (abbess) out of a house whereas a younger woman raises her arms. The feathers on the skeleton's head and what appears as a phallus in between its legs are intentionally confusing for the viewer but…

These woodcuts portray an empress and a skeleton surrounded by young women. The skeleton embodies the typical case of feminine death specific for women, as it is represented with breasts and its skull is covered with the same item as the other young…

This image represents a skeleton taking a queen surrounded by young women. These images are examples of death as jester or fool, as the skeleton wears a fool's hat. Its costume parodies some of the elements of the dead, among these the clothes, and…

These images represent a Noblewoman and her husband holding hands while a skeleton plays the drums near them. The skeleton in the first three images is presented with hair, a traditionally feminine trait, whereas it appears without it in the last…

This image shows a queen and a skeleton. The skeleton has flesh from the neck down and has feminine attributes such as hair and breasts. There is also a snake wrapped around her neck. This death represents the death of queens or important women, as…

This image represents a mother holding a crib and her child. Behind the woman, a skeleton appears with a veil, similar to the one the mother is wearing. Death is thus mocking the victim it came to look for by wearing the same attributes as her, such…

These images represent a nun kneeling on the floor with her head covered holding rosary beads and looking at a young man play an instrument on a bed. Next to the nun, a skeleton with breasts and her skull covered. These images are examples of death…

These images represent a Duchess on her bed being dragged out by a skeleton while another skeleton plays the violin. Thus, a feminine character (Duchess) is being taken by two skeletons, a clearly feminine one (with long hair) and a masculine or…