October Offerings: Death in 'Freund heins Erscheinungen', 1785

Although the danse macabre and memento mori genres are best known for its popularity during the Middle Ages, that common thread of reminding the viewer of the inevitability of that final dance with death--for all people, in all walks of life, in countless ways--continued for centuries after. Even today remnants of danse macabre can be found in old cartoons, modern festivals, and even collectible pins.

Freund heins Erscheinungen in Holbeins Manier was originally published in 1785, and it received at least one more edition in the early 1800s. The book contained numerous depictions of death, affecting high-born and low; ranging from mere accidents to murders to the result of gluttony or other poor choices, each with and accompanying poem. I've selected a few of the illustrations to share here.

 

[image: F.R. Schellenberg. Freund heins Erscheinungen. Winterthur : Heinrich Steiner und Comp., 1785] 

  [image: F.R. Schellenberg. Freund heins Erscheinungen. Winterthur : Heinrich Steiner und Comp., 1785]

  [image: F.R. Schellenberg. Freund heins Erscheinungen. Winterthur : Heinrich Steiner und Comp., 1785]

  [image: F.R. Schellenberg. Freund heins Erscheinungen. Winterthur : Heinrich Steiner und Comp., 1785]

[image: F.R. Schellenberg. Freund heins Erscheinungen. Winterthur : Heinrich Steiner und Comp., 1785] 

[image: F.R. Schellenberg. Freund heins Erscheinungen. Winterthur : Heinrich Steiner und Comp., 1785]