The Nun, from "The Dance of Death"

The Nun, from "The Dance of Death" is a seminal woodcut created by Hans Holbein the Younger between 1521 and 1538. This small-scale print belongs to Holbein’s iconic series illustrating the medieval Danse Macabre, a powerful memento mori emphasizing the universality of death, regardless of social standing. Executed with remarkable precision for the woodcut medium, the detailed images became hugely influential across 16th-century Europe after their publication, securing Holbein’s place as a master of graphic arts.

In this particular scene, Younger depicts the fate awaiting a woman of the cloth who has seemingly been tempted away from her sacred commitment. The setting is intimate: the nun, fully clothed in her habit, lies resting in a large bed while Death, depicted as a grinning skeletal figure, enters the private chamber. Instead of seizing her immediately, the skeleton mockingly plays a lute, perhaps symbolizing the profane, worldly distractions that led the nun astray. A smaller, shadowy devil lurks in the background, witnessing the inevitable outcome. Holbein’s skillful use of deep contrasts and fine lines defines the heavy curtains and the enclosed environment, underscoring the spiritual urgency inherent in the narrative.

The meticulous craftsmanship of this piece distinguishes it within the history of German Renaissance prints. As one of the most famous examples from the The Dance of Death series, the work demonstrates Holbein’s technical mastery and satirical commentary on social morality. This historic woodcut is classified as a print and resides in the robust collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its age and cultural importance, reproductions of this image are frequently found in the public domain, making Holbein’s powerful visual commentary widely accessible for study and appreciation.