Vanitasstilleven met muziekinstrumenten 1622

Theodor Matham made this print, a "Vanitasstilleven met muziekinstrumenten," sometime before his death in 1676. It's made using engraving, where lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The density of the lines creates a rich, almost photorealistic effect, especially on the glassware and the musical instruments. Notice the contrast between the smooth, reflective surfaces of the pitcher, and the textured fabric beneath, all rendered through the careful labor of the engraver’s hand. The ‘vanitas’ theme – a meditation on mortality – was especially popular in the 17th century. The print reminds us that even the finest craft objects, like musical instruments, are subject to decay. Matham underscores this message through the image itself; he uses the labor-intensive process of engraving to depict things that are fleeting. The skill involved in the production of the artwork is in direct conflict with the memento mori; the message of the work is that everything must pass.