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  • Alfred Kubin. The Comet (Der Komet) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    The Comet (Der Komet) from Ein...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. The Comet (Der Komet) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. Athlete (Athlet) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Athlete (Athlet) from Ein neuer...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. Athlete (Athlet) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. Violinist (Geiger) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Violinist (Geiger) from Ein neuer...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. Violinist (Geiger) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. Bankrupt (Bankrott) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Bankrupt (Bankrott) from Ein neuer...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. Bankrupt (Bankrott) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. Der Tod von Ötting (The Death of Ötting) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Der Tod von Ötting (The Death of...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. Der Tod von Ötting (The Death of Ötting) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. Forbitten Path (Verbotener Weg) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Forbitten Path (Verbotener Weg)...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. Forbitten Path (Verbotener Weg) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. Death and the Poor Man (Der Tod und der Arme) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Death and the Poor Man (Der Tod und der...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. Death and the Poor Man (Der Tod und der Arme) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. Brushwood Gatherer (Reisigsammler) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Brushwood Gatherer (Reisigsammler) from...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. Brushwood Gatherer (Reisigsammler) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. Unfall (Accident) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Unfall (Accident) from Ein neuer...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. Unfall (Accident) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. Butterfly (Schmetterling) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Butterfly (Schmetterling) from Ein...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. Butterfly (Schmetterling) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. Ice Skating Rink (Eislaufplatz) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Ice Skating Rink (Eislaufplatz)...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. Ice Skating Rink (Eislaufplatz) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. Acrobats (Akrobaten) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Acrobats (Akrobaten) from Ein...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. Acrobats (Akrobaten) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. Gardener (Gärtner) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Gardener (Gärtner) from Ein...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. Gardener (Gärtner) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. Dirne (Prostitute) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Dirne (Prostitute) from Ein...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. Dirne (Prostitute) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. Tavern (Kaschemme) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Tavern (Kaschemme) from Ein neuer...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. Tavern (Kaschemme) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. Blue Beard's Room (Blaubarts Zimmer) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Blue Beard's Room (Blaubarts Zimmer)...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. Blue Beard's Room (Blaubarts Zimmer) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. Frozen to Death (Die Erfrorene) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Frozen to Death (Die Erfrorene)...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. Frozen to Death (Die Erfrorene) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. At the Fishing Pond (Am Fischteich) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    At the Fishing Pond (Am Fischteich)...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. At the Fishing Pond (Am Fischteich) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. In the Bohemian Forest (Im Böhmerwald) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    In the Bohemian Forest (Im...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. In the Bohemian Forest (Im Böhmerwald) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. The Photographer (Der Photograph) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    The Photographer (Der Photograph)...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. The Photographer (Der Photograph) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. Caesar (Cäsar) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Caesar (Cäsar) from Ein neuer...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. Caesar (Cäsar) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. Death Coming for the Draftsman (Der Tod holt den Zeichner) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Death Coming for the Draftsman (Der Tod...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. Death Coming for the Draftsman (Der Tod holt den Zeichner) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. The Quick Funeral (Das schnelle Begräbnis) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    The Quick Funeral (Das schnelle...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. The Quick Funeral (Das schnelle Begräbnis) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
  • Alfred Kubin. Charon (Charon) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Charon (Charon) from Ein neuer...
    1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)
    Alfred Kubin. Charon (Charon) from Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death). 1947 (reproduced drawing executed 1938)

About this illustrated book

Heather Hess, German Expressionist Digital Archive Project, German Expressionism: Works from the Collection. 2011.

Reprising a theme he had first addressed during World War I, Alfred Kubin began working on the twenty-four ink drawings for Ein neuer Totentanz (A new dance of death) in fall 1937 and completed them in March 1938, the same month the Nazis annexed his homeland, Austria. It was not until after the war, in 1947, that the drawings were published as a book. Kubin's fantastic and grotesque images of death resonated deeply with postwar Austrian society.

Kubin hoped that "the beauty of [the drawings'] design would remove the fear of death." Here death, although shown to be omnipresent, lurking in both the city and the country, is not violent or gruesome. Instead, a skeletal figure pokes fun at a strongman, goes ice skating, and patiently waits for the conclusion of a bar fight. Death even claims a draftsman who bears Kubin's own features.

Kubin was an extraordinarily prolific draftsman, and he made more than 2,300 illustrations, covers, and vignettes for approximately 170 books, including several he wrote himself.

Alfred Kubin (Austrian, 1877–1959)

The Illustrated Book

Ein neuer Totentanz (A New Dance of Death)

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Author:
with introduction by Werner Wachsmuth
Date:
1947 (reproduced drawings executed 1938)
Medium:
Illustrated book with twenty-four photolithographic reproductions after pen and ink drawings
Dimensions:
Page: 16 9/16 x 11 5/8" (42 x 29.5 cm); overall: 16 5/8 x 11 15/16 x 11/16" (42.3 x 30.3 x 1.7 cm)
Paper:
Cream, smooth, wove.
Publisher:
Wiener Verlag, Vienna
Printer:
Leopold Hoffmann, Vienna
Edition:
5000 (including a deluxe edition of 150, signed and numbered; and a regular edition of 4850 [this ex.])
Credit Line:
The Louis E. Stern Collection
Copyright:
© 2016 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn
Reference:
Horodisch D18. Raabe 644. Marks A 182.
MoMA Number:
867.1964.1-24
Themes:
Dance & Leisure, Death, Fantasy
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