His style draws from the woodcut traditions of Albrecht Dürer. Rethel avoided the soft textures common in nineteenth-century painting. He preferred bold outlines and clear compositions that gave his work a monumental quality. In the Hannibal series, he depicted the Carthaginian general crossing the Alps with a focus on physical struggle and harsh mountain passes. His work often features a stark, linear precision. This approach makes his prints feel like historical documents rather than mere illustrations.

Modern collectors value Rethel for his dark, graphic sensibility. The Dance of Death prints possess a gothic atmosphere that fits well in contemporary interiors. His work offers an alternative to the sentimental art of the Romantic era. The prints provide a sense of historical gravitas without being ornate. These woodcuts remain popular because of their strong visual impact and their connection to European history. They suit spaces that require art with an intellectual and slightly macabre edge.