A Dance of Death in Two Parts

Rebecca Gilbert is a Philadelphia-based artist whose work exemplifies a dedication to traditional printmaking processes. Representations of longing, mystery, and communication between the realms of the living and the dead are embedded throughout much of her work.

During this program, Gilbert will talk about her current project, A Dance of Death in Two Parts. When complete, this ambitious project will consist of 82 individual wood engravings with letterpress printed text. Forty-one of the intimately scaled prints recreate the renowned Dance of Death series by Hans Holbein the Younger, that was published in 1538. The remaining forty-one prints are of Gilbert’s own design; depicting people, technology, and culture from our own time.

To see more of Rebecca Gilbert’s work, visit rebeccaprint.com or follow her on Instagram @rebecca_print.

Presented in conjunction with , on view through Saturday, February 28, 2026 on in the Rare Book Department at Parkway Central Library in the Dietrich Gallery. There will be time before and after the event to explore the exhibition. Be sure to look for The Grocery Clerk (The Essential Worker from A Dance of Death in Two Parts) by Rebecca Gilbert in the exhibition! An Or Not to Be exhibition curator will be available to discuss and answer questions throughout.

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Host or Publisher Free Library of Philadelphia, Print & Picture Collection