Death and the Artist (Tod und Künstler) from Dance of Death (Totentanz)

1921, published 1922

Lovis Corinth

Associated Names
Lovis Corinth

Artist, German, 1858 - 1925

Alfred Ruckenbrod

Printer

Euphorion Verlag

Publisher

The image features a portrait of a person seated with their hands clasped, possibly holding a pen. The person's facial features are detailed with a prominent forehead, intense eyes, and a somewhat furrowed brow. The individual has short, neatly combed hair and is wearing a simple garment. In the background, there is a figure resembling a skull or mask.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

Associated Artworks

See all 5 artworks
This is a photograph of a book cover. The cover has a contrast between an orange spine and a dark main cover. The title "LOVIS CORINTH TOTENTANZ" is printed at the top of the cover in a bold serif font, with a small star symbol placed beneath it.

Dance of Death (Totentanz)

Lovis Corinth, Alfred Ruckenbrod, Euphorion Verlag

1922

The image is a sketch of a man from the waist up, leaning to one side, examining a skull in his left hand. He is looking at the skull with his head slightly bent forward. The man has sharp facial features with a strong jawline and short, lightly sketched hair. He is wearing an open shirt that is loosely depicted. In his other hand, he appears to be holding a long bone. The background is sparse and sketchy, with no specific details. The sketch is monochromatic with dynamic and expressive lines.

Death and the Young Man (Tod und Jüngling) from Dance of Death (Totentanz)

Lovis Corinth, Alfred Ruckenbrod, Euphorion Verlag

1921

The image is a sketch of a person's bust, focusing on the head and shoulders. The person is facing slightly to the side with their gaze directed upward. Their facial features, including large eyes and a prominent nose, are depicted with strong shadowing and lines. The dark, textured hair appears almost unruly. Light sketching suggests loose clothing draped over the shoulders. In the background, there is a skull rendered in a similar sketch style above and behind the person's head. Heavy shading and cross-hatching blend the background into the person's form, creating depth and intensity in the artwork.

Death and the Old Man (Tod und Greis) from Dance of Death (Totentanz)

Lovis Corinth, Alfred Ruckenbrod, Euphorion Verlag

1921

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Sigbert Marzynski (Marcy); Dr. Toni G. Marcy, Los Angeles, California; acquired 1990 by the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1993

  • Lovis Corinth, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1993-1994, no. 59a.

2024

  • The Anxious Eye: German Expressionism and Its Legacy, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 2024.

Bibliography

1960

  • Müller, Heinrich. Die späte Graphik von Lovis Corinth. Hamburg, Germany: Lichtwarkstiftung, 1960, no. 546.

Inscriptions

upper right in plate: Tod & Kunstler; lower left in graphite: 17/25; lower right in graphite: Lovis Corinth

Markings

None.

Watermarks

None.

Wikidata ID

Q74886649

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