The German Tango (Lady Dances with Death) (1916)
by Louis Raemaekers (Netherlands, 1869-1956)
Death is a pitiless partner: when called to the dance, it claims eternal possession. This is a merciless verdict of the symbolic cartoon “German Tango” by the Dutch painter Louis Raemaekers. The painter delivered about 1,000 works on World War I and is one of the most prominent cartoonists of this war who largely contributed to the anti-German war propaganda.
Louis Raemaekers’ The German Tango is a grim wartime illustration that captures the folly of Europe’s ruling class during World War I. A crowned woman, representing aristocratic Europe, appears entranced as she dances with a skeletal figure. Her posture suggests surrender or denial, emphasizing the seductive pull of power and the blindness to looming catastrophe.
The skeleton, symbolizing death and German militarism, clutches his partner in an eerie waltz that speaks to Raemaekers’ biting criticism. Through sharp visual metaphor, he condemns the elites for their complacency and romanticized diplomacy while war devastated the continent. This piece is a haunting indictment of leadership lost in performance while destruction danced ever closer.
Matte Poster
• Printed with Dye/Pigment Reactive Ink on Archival Matte Paper
• Shipped in Heavy Duty Poster Tube
• Heavy weight (210 gsm), thick base, and an instant-dry coating that resists fingerprints and smudging