Open editions: Lady Vanitas

“Vanitas” or “Memento mori” paintings (“vanity” or “remember death” in Latin) have long been an important motif in the history of art. Featuring symbols of mortality such as skulls, pipes and watches, they served as a reminder to viewers of their own mortality and the inevitability of death. Often, these works also have a more somber feel and express the vanity of material goods and pleasures, since they will be fleeting and fade away. Vanitas paintings were especially popular during the Dutch Golden Age, but they continue to be popular today thanks to their timeless message.