Vanitas stilleven 1888 - 1891

Editor: This is Willem Steelink's "Vanitas Stilleven," an engraving done between 1888 and 1891. The skull immediately grabs my attention. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: What interests me is how the artist uses readily available materials and engraving techniques to engage with the "vanitas" theme. Consider the skull itself; where did Steelink source such an object? Was it for sale, or could he, as an artist, claim access to a bone repository for medical study? These practicalities open a door to explore societal attitudes about mortality and its material representation at the end of the 19th century. Editor: So, it's about more than just the symbolic meaning, but also about where those symbols came from. Curator: Precisely. The engraving as a printmaking medium also highlights issues of reproduction and dissemination. Prints were easily reproduced, making the image widely accessible. How did mass production affect our comprehension of a subject traditionally associated with exclusivity and power? Editor: That's fascinating. Did the accessibility cheapen the message in any way? Curator: It likely democratized it. What was once the purview of wealthy patrons could now reach a broader audience. Look at the inclusion of seemingly ordinary objects alongside traditional vanitas symbols; could the artist also have been leveling criticism towards consumerism and mass culture through his own art? Editor: I hadn't considered that. I guess seeing this as just a ‘vanitas’ piece really limits it. Curator: Exactly! Focusing on the materiality and the means of production lets us challenge traditional art historical narratives and question our own relationship to material culture. I've learned new perspectives too, and I value your insight.