The dance of death (usually represented by a skeleton) has been a recurring theme in art and literature for centuries -at least! BibliOddysey has a sampling of such illustrations from the Heinrich Hein University of Düsseldorf collection, ranging from 1736 to the 20th century. Link
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http://www.burger.si/Hrastovlje/10.html
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Centuries at least? Try millennia. I refer you to the example of two Roman silver cups at the Louvre, with skeletons partying. It was a common enough theme in Roman times.
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