The King, from "The Dance of Death"

The King, from "The Dance of Death" by Hans Holbein the Younger is a pivotal work within the Northern Renaissance tradition of the Danse Macabre, a visual and literary motif warning of universal mortality. Created as a woodcut between 1521 and 1538, this print belongs to a highly influential series illustrating Death intervening dramatically in the lives of various social classes. Holbein, working during the turbulent Reformation era, used the sharp detail afforded by the woodcut technique to convey moralizing messages with exceptional clarity and widespread accessibility.

In this specific scene, a proud King is forcibly reminded of his fate. Seated at a lavish table, surrounded by opulent food and oblivious to his impending end, the monarch is startled as Death, personified by a skeletal figure, violently pulls him away toward the grave. The inevitability of the moment is underscored by the inclusion of an hourglass perched precariously nearby, symbolizing the finite time remaining for all men, regardless of their royal status or earthly power. Unlike earlier, broader representations of Death, Younger’s prints focus intensely on individual human drama and the swiftness of divine judgment.

This powerful woodcut is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, reflecting the print’s historical significance as a landmark of Renaissance printmaking. Although the series was first published in Lyon in 1538, its profound impact on visual culture continues today. The King, from "The Dance of Death" demonstrates Younger’s mastery of minute detail and biting social commentary. Due to its age and cultural status, high-resolution reproductions of this seminal work are widely available through public domain collections, ensuring the enduring study of Holbein’s uncompromising vision.