The Count, from "The Dance of Death"

The Count, from "The Dance of Death" by Hans Holbein the Younger, is a pivotal woodcut print executed between 1521 and 1538. This detailed small-scale work belongs to Holbein’s famous series illustrating the universal and inescapable power of death over all segments of society, a concept known as the Danse Macabre. As a woodcut, the image was carved in relief onto a block of wood, allowing for meticulous detail that was then highly reproducible, increasing the circulation and influence of the prints across Northern Europe during the Reformation era.

The scene depicts one of the powerful men of the era, the Count, engrossed in his worldly concerns, likely commanding servants or overseeing his fiefdom. Death, personified by a menacing skeleton, appears suddenly and forcefully, grabbing the nobleman from behind and dragging him away. Younger masterfully uses the contrast inherent in the woodcut technique to emphasize the dynamic struggle between the living figure and the skeletal intruder. The detailed background provides a theatrical setting, typical of the narrative complexity Holbein brought to the genre.

This powerful visual commentary reflects the 16th-century anxiety surrounding mortality and social hierarchy. Holbein's series broke tradition by showing Death interacting directly with individuals based on their occupation or status, rather than just showing a general procession. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds several important prints from this series, which remains one of the most significant achievements in graphic arts history. Today, these seminal works are often featured in public domain collections, ensuring continued access to Younger's impactful interpretation of the theme.