Vanity
1540
oil
panel
From the collection of Hamburger Kunsthalle
About the artist
Artist
Barthel Beham
Barthel Beham (1502–1540) was an artist, born in Nuremberg.
See the richer artist page1540
oil
panel
From the collection of Hamburger Kunsthalle
Vanity is a 1540 oil by Barthel Beham, a Mannerism work, depicting Woman, held at Hamburger Kunsthalle.
This painting shows a woman standing in front of a tree, wearing a red cloth draped over her shoulder and around her waist. She has long, curly hair and holds a flower in her right hand. Behind her, a skeleton with a scythe is visible, while a baby clings to her left leg. To her right, a man lies on the ground, covered by a cloth. In the background, a cityscape and mountains are visible under a blue sky with white clouds. The woman's pose and the presence of the skeleton and baby suggest a theme related to mortality and the transience of life. The use of oil paint and the detailed rendering of the figures and background suggest a high level of skill and attention to detail. If you're interested in learning more about the artist who created this painting, you might want to look up Barthel Beham.
Barthel Beham (1502–1540) was an artist, born in Nuremberg.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
