Art, Symbol & Imagination
The Skeleton above the Human Crowd
A tall seated skeleton appears within a narrow cliff-like enclosure above a densely packed mound of pale bodies. Small stars punctuate the surrounding blackness. The enormous difference in scale turns Smith’s figure of mortality into a dominant presence over the human crowd.
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Citation
Wallace Smith. "The Skeleton above the Human Crowd" [editorial title]. In Fantazius Mallare: A Mysterious Oath, Ben Hecht; drawings by Wallace Smith. 1922 supplied edition, 1922, Covici-McGee. Source scan leaf 85. Lumitheca. /gallery/image/gallery-20261108-0269-0077
Source details
Editorial title and description. Source details from the Library catalogue.
Descriptive title supplied for the visually reviewed historical illustration. The surrounding book presents the original author's interpretation.
Sources
From the book
Fantazius Mallare: A Mysterious OathBen Hecht; drawings by Wallace Smith1922More from this book
First Drawing: The Figure against the Tree
The Haloed Rider on the Fantastic Mount
The Figure below the Great WindowRelated illustrations
Cite this illustration
Wallace Smith. The Skeleton above the Human Crowd. Fantazius Mallare: A Mysterious Oath. Scan leaf 85. Lumitheca. https://lumitheca.com/gallery/image/gallery-20261108-0269-0077