In class we briefly discussed the Dance
of the Death Artwork, so I did some further research on the subject. These portraits
came about, because of the black plague. People were forced to think about
their impending death and how short life really is. These thoughts were expressed
in their poetry, music and visual arts. In The Dance of the Death Artwork the
living are arranged in order of their rank in society.
In this portrait a clergy member is
being taken to death, representing how no one can escape death grasp. Escorting them to their death is a skeleton,
or sometimes shown as a rotten corpse, most of the time they are shown carrying
spears, bows and arrows or graveyard tools. However, they are often pictured as
carrying musical instruments, which they would play, while dancing around, to mock
the living. The living are shown full of despair and begging for mercy. However,
death shows them no mercy, taking its victims regardless their social status,
sex or age.
I never payed attention to the musical instruments that the skeletons carried around. No wonder the call it the dance of the dead! I always find it interesting how different cultures at different time periods come up with ways to cope with the finality and uncertainty of death.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting picture. It always brings to mind how people during this time could have viewed their surroundings. I cant imagine what it would be like to see people you know and love dying around you everyday. It would make a huge impact on how you viewed the world, both physically and spiritually.
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