In 1424, the monumental mural of the 'Danse Macabre' was painted at the Holy Innocents' Cemetery in Paris, illustrating skeletons dancing with living figures from all social classes. This artwork served as a powerful reminder of the inevitability of death and the shared fate of humanity, regardless of status. The 'Danse Macabre' aesthetic became a significant cultural motif in medieval art, reflecting societal attitudes towards mortality.

The rise of the 'Danse Macabre' aesthetic in 1424 directly inspired a subgenre of late-medieval memento mori poetry, emphasizing the leveling power of death. Poets like François Villon incorporated these themes into their works, reflecting on mortality and the human condition in a rapidly changing world.