Vanitas

Our first project will be an observational painting based on the traditional format of Vanitas. Vanitas refers to the "vanity" of all worldly things, such as riches, beauty, pastimes, learning, and even the arts. During the 16th and 17th century, it became a popular painting theme to create an elaborate still life that represented the brevity of life and the inevitable death. Artists included objects that were symbolic of the pleasures of the flesh and the futility of human achievement. Common items were skulls, candles, mirrors, and fruit.

Think about what objects you would include in a contemporary vanitas painting. What objects now represent fleeting tastes, desires, and pleasures? Bring items to class and create your own still life. This set-up should be a collection of carefully considered items arranged in a thoughtful manner.

Consider
How can we arrange a series of objects to create a balanced and engaging composition?
What kinds of objects do we have today that denote the pleasures of the flesh?
How are they similar to and different from the objects selected during the 17th century?
What kinds of meaning do they create as an assortment?

Materials
Vanitas still life materials, 16 x 20" or 20 x 20" canvas, palette, brushes, turpenoid or water, all oil paints, rag, gloves, glass jars w/lids for thinner.

Look at
Dutch Still Life

Dutch artists used this motif to create a symbolic painting, but also to display their skills as artists. A still life generally juxtaposes different textures, shapes, and colors to show one object's qualities in relation to others. Look at the specificity in the objects.

Jana Sterbak

This Canadian artist exhibited a dress made out of slabs of meat entitled “Vanitas: Flesh Dress of an Albino Anorexic”. She created this work to contrast the vanity and body decay. Many artists today continue to work with materials that change over time- and that change is embedded in the meaning of the work.

Sam Taylor-Wood



This artist uses video to document decomposition- as a time-based vanitas work. The pieces of ripe, luscious fruit- normally a still-life trope- slowly rot and transform into a disgusting pile of mold. Her other work photographs and films deal with a kind of separation between appearance and reality.

Audrey Flack

This artist became one of the founding Photorealist painters when she created paintings that juxtaposed a variety of kitsch items to create contemporary still life. Instead of ancient tomes, candlesticks, and skulls, we see picture of Marilyn Monroe, glossy lipstick, and red velvet.