Woodcuts
by Hans HOLBEIN the Younger

Before 1526 Holbein had produced a series of woodcuts illustrating the Dance of Death. Holbein's ironic tone throughout the series contrasts sharply with contemporary, more expressionist treatments of the subject. Death appears as a mocker, attacking every class of humanity and - as he snatches the Emperor's crown during the distribution of Justice, and fixes around the countess's neck a chain of bones while she makes a lavish toilet - reveals the futility of worldly power and concerns. The series is remarkable for its variety and for the precision of Holbein's feeling for different social types.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
Title page in the form of a Renaissance niche
1516
Woodcut, 180 x 120 mm
Kupferstichkabinett, Öffentliche Kunstsammlung, Basel

692*1012
Grayscale
144 Kb



Title-plate with St Peter and St Paul
1523
Woodcut, 243 x 166 mm
Kupferstichkabinett, Öffentliche Kunstsammlung, Basel

706*1002
Grayscale
169 Kb



Title page of the Coverdale Bible
1535
Woodcut
British Library, London

607*1000
True Color
214 Kb



The Rich Man; The Queen
1523-26
Woodcut, 64 x 48 mm
National Gallery of Art, Washington

901*605
Grayscale
107 Kb



The Plowman from Dance of Death
1524-26
Woodcut, 65 x 48 mm
Kupferstichkabinett, Öffentliche Kunstsammlung, Basel

772*1056
Grayscale
125 Kb



The Noble Lady from Dance of Death
1524-26
Woodcut, 65 x 48 mm
Kupferstichkabinett, Öffentliche Kunstsammlung, Basel

701*873
Grayscale
136 Kb



True and False Forgiveness
c. 1525
Woodcut, 79 x 270 mm
Kupferstichkabinett, Öffentliche Kunstsammlung, Basel

1282*400
True Color
173 Kb



Christ as the True Light
c 1526
Woodcut, 84 x 277 mm
Kupferstichkabinett, Öffentliche Kunstsammlung, Basel

1393*420
Grayscale
124 Kb



Charitas
1543
Woodcut
British Library, London

701*1030
True Color
164 Kb




Summary of paintings by Hans Holbein the Younger
1515-19 | 1519-25 | altarpieces | 1526-28 | 1529-31
1532-35 | Ambassadors | Henry VIII and his family | 1536-43
drawings and woodcuts | miniatures | Miscellaneous works