“The Noble Lady” is an artwork by Hans Holbein the Younger, created circa 1525 in Germany. As a woodcut on paper, its dimensions measure 65 x 48 cm. This piece is associated with the Northern Renaissance art movement and is part of the allegorical genre. It belongs to the series known as “The Dance of Death.”
The artwork portrays an elegantly dressed noble lady and a man standing together while being confronted by a skeleton wielding a club. The background exhibits a draped fabric, which adds a stage-like setting to the scene. The noble lady’s attire is richly detailed with ornamental patterns and fur, signifying her high social status. The skeletal figure, a personification of death, reminds viewers of the inevitable fate that awaits all, regardless of social standing. The illustration’s stark contrasts and intricate details emphasize the macabre theme of mortality omnipresent in Holbein’s “The Dance of Death” series.
