The dance of Death 1914-1918 Death marches

No. 2 from a portfolio of 7 etchings titled 'The dance of Death', features Death as a tangible image hovering ominously over the battlefield. The concept of dance of Death imagery began as a medieval allegory on the universality of death and the all-conquering and equalising power of death.
In this etching 'Death marches', a column of British troops are marching along a road in strict formation, and are seen from a slightly elevated angle. Marching alongside them, along the top of a wall is Death, personified as a skeleton wrapped in a cloak, a patient figure keeping pace with the soldiers and awaiting the inevitable death that war shall bring.
Percy Smith was a painter, calligrapher and book designer. He began to etch in 1913. He served as a gunner in the Royal Marine Artillery on the Somme during the First World War. He surreptitiously made drawings of his war experiences while at the Front and because of this was arrested twice as a spy. Etching plates were smuggled out to him between the pages of magazines.