udwig Bechstein (1801-1860) was a prolific author and illustrator, although most
of his drawings were aimed at children.
He illustrated several fairy tales and made other kiddie cartoons like the "frog swim school"
to the left.
However, in 1831 it was neither fairy tales nor frogs that occupied him, when he
published "Der Todtentanz, ein Gedicht".
The book consisted of 200 pages of text with 49 copperplates. Bechstein's faithful outlines
were engraved in copper by Johann Gottlieb Abraham Frenzel (1782-1855).