The Merchant, from "The Dance of Death"

"The Merchant, from "The Dance of Death" by Hans Holbein the Younger is a profound example of Renaissance graphic arts, executed as a highly detailed woodcut print between 1521 and 1538. This pivotal work belongs to Younger’s extensive series illustrating the Danse Macabre, a medieval allegory that the artist modernized and revitalized for the turbulent 16th century.

In this specific scene, the subject is a wealthy man, a merchant identifiable by the heavy keys hanging from his waist and the large ledger he clutches. He is caught mid-transaction, either tallying accounts or weighing goods, when he is violently seized by Death, personified by a grinning skeleton. The skeletons in Holbein’s series act not as impersonal spirits, but as lively, almost mischievous figures who dramatically interrupt the lives of men from all social strata, serving as a powerful moral warning that wealth and earthly status offer no immunity from mortality.

Though often recognized for his portraits, Holbein the Younger exerted immense influence through his masterful handling of the woodcut technique. Working closely with the specialist block cutter Hans Lützelburger, Younger achieved levels of fine detail and minute cross-hatching previously thought impossible for prints of this scale. These small-format works provided biting social commentary and resonated deeply during the Reformation era, circulating widely across northern Europe as affordable, accessible art. While the original blocks were cut earlier, the first comprehensive edition featuring The Merchant was published in Lyon in 1538. This impression is held within the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and, due to its historical significance, is frequently accessed through public domain art initiatives.