Dancing With Death

Originating in France in the early fifteenth century, “danse macabre” was an artistic genre of memento mori, depicting skeletons dancing together – usually in a line or circle – as was typical of the dancing style of the middle ages.

Many original versions of “danse macabre” can be found in Medieval churches across France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and England, and some include skeleton musicians playing musical instruments.

Here the memento mori isn’t so much about remembering one’s own mortality but rather the inevitable demise of us all, especially those who we share life with.