Vanitasstilleven met een bloembekranste schedel 1670 - 1713

Pieter Schenk's "Vanitasstilleven met een bloembekranste schedel" (1670-1713) is a still life depicting a skull adorned with a wreath of flowers, a book, a candlestick, and a glass jar, all arranged on a table. The artwork's title "Vanitasstilleven" translates to "Still Life of Vanity" in English, a genre common in 17th-century Dutch art. The skull symbolizes mortality, while the other objects represent the fleeting nature of earthly pleasures, reminding viewers of the importance of preparing for the afterlife. This engraving, now at the Rijksmuseum, demonstrates Schenk's mastery in creating a composition that evokes a sense of quiet contemplation and reflection on the meaning of life and death.