Vanitas Still Life

In the visual arts, the term vanitas was first used only in the 17th century (the century of Hals, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Jan van Kessel, and Adriaen van Ostade). It described a type of still-life painting that was intended to remind the viewer of the transience of created objects, of pleasure, even of life itself.

As used to describe a literary theme, however, the term is ancient. It is derived from the famous words of Qoheleth that open the Book of Ecclesiastes: "Vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!" Moreover, in its literary usage, vanitas refers not so much to the transience or fragility of life as to the futility of seeking what does not last; it is meant to convey a sense of emptiness more than a sense of impermanence.

Why vanitas painting became popular in the 17th century was doubtless because of a number of reasons: The century was one of great upheavals, but also one of great advances. It was a century of wars and plague, but also it was the century of Galileo, Harvey, and Newton. It saw the establishment of the first scientific academies, of medical journals, and of the peer review system among physicians.

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