Vanitas Still Life 1658 - 1697

Gerrit van Vucht made this ‘Vanitas Still Life’ with oil on wood, using traditional techniques and materials of the Dutch Golden Age. The smooth application of the oil paint and the rendering of light gives a tactile presence to the objects in the image, emphasizing their material qualities: the rough texture of the old books, the glassy surface of the hourglass, and the smooth appearance of the skull. Still life as a genre was very popular with the rising merchant class. It celebrated the abundance that they enjoyed as traders, but also served as a reminder of the fleeting nature of life, urging them to reflect on death and eternity. The great amount of labor required to create the artwork itself, as well as the objects within, are in stark contrast to the scene's message of the ephemerality of life. The painting challenges the distinction between art and craft, as its meaning is rooted in its materiality, technique, and cultural context, going beyond just surface-level appreciation.