Dance of Death

Marcel Roux

1904–05 · Fifteen etchings in a printed portfolio · Drawings and Prints

The themes of death and human suffering that permeate Roux’s work reached an apotheosis in "Danse Macabre" (Dance of Death), his most masterful series. Each print shows a different way in which Death could present itself during the decadent fin-de-siècle. These scenes of everyday life haunted by Death are bracketed by Adam and Eve ("those who created Death") and Christ ("He who conquered Death") revealing Roux’s fervent Catholicism.

Artist

Marcel Roux

Date

1904–05

Medium

Fifteen etchings in a printed portfolio

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 2018