“Death and the Miser” is a woodcut on paper created by Hans Holbein the Younger in 1523, in Germany. As an exemplar of the Northern Renaissance, it is part of the allegorical series “The Dance of Death”. The artwork unfolds within the thematic orbit of the macabre dance, allegorically exploring themes of mortality and the transitory nature of worldly possessions.
The artwork portrays a rich man’s encounter with death, manifested as a skeletal figure. It is evident that the miser is in a state of shock, desperately reaching out as if to ward off the inevitable, while death, unyielding and implacable, proffers a reminder of his transient existence with a skeletal hand extended toward the man, holding a round object that might symbolize a clock or hourglass, suggesting the miser’s time is up. The room is richly appointed with the accouterments of wealth – coins strewn across the table, luxurious fabrics, and ornate furniture, including a chest overflowing with valuables – underscoring the contrast between worldly riches and death’s stark reality. The verticality of the composition, emphasized by the high arches and the tall, narrow window, heightens the tension between the domains of the earthly and the eternal. The woodcut technique renders sharp contrasts and a sense of texture, offering a visual commentary on the ephemeral nature of human endeavors when faced with the certitude of death.
