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Vanitas. Still Life in a Landscape

Unknown

1664

unspecified

From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst

Landscape

Dominant colour

Vanitas. Still Life in a Landscape is a 1664 unspecified by Unknown, held at Statens Museum for Kunst.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1664
Where can I see it?: Statens Museum for Kunst

About this work

This painting shows a messy pile of odd objects in a dim, shadowy corner. A skull, books, a broken lantern, and a cracked mirror lie scattered on the ground. In the background, a dark building and a tower loom under a moody sky. The mix of decaying things—like the skull and rotting fruit—was meant to remind people life is temporary. The dark lighting makes everything look eerie and forgotten. If you like this style, look up *chiaroscuro*.