Macabre - An introduction

Macabre - An introduction

Macabre, also referred to as Momento Mori, (which translates into, 'Remember your mortality') is an art genre or style, which originated in the late Medieval period in the 13th century. The first ever documented pieces making use of this art style were illustrated Sermon texts, found in the Saints Innocents Cemetery (Wikipedia, September 2012).

Saints Innocents Cemetery, Paris

An important 'foundation' to the Macabre art style (Wikipedia, September 2012) was the painting known as 'Danse Macabre', more commonly known as 'The Dance of Death'.
It was to remind people of life's fragility and to acknowledge the importance of their daily privileges. The subliminal message behind the paintings were that, no matter the circumstances with every individual, the dance unites all in death, and the afterlife.

'Danse Macabre', Bernt Notke, 1463

Bernt Notke, self portrait.

 Although a vast collaboration of artists during the late Medieval period devoted themselves to this art style, Bernt Notke (original artist of the painting above) was amongst the most important artists in Northern Europe. 

Throughout the course of this blog, I shall demonstrate the transformation of this art style, and how it has adapted to various modern classes, such as film, design, art etc, from a previously feared symbolism of death.

Sources :

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_mori>
Accessed 3rd October 2012

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danse_Macabre>
Accessed 3rd October 2012

<http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04617a.htm>
Accessed 3rd October 2012