Still Life with Brass Urn 1892

Emil Carlsen's painting presents us with a constellation of objects laden with symbolic weight. Foremost, observe the brass urn, a vessel often associated with commemoration and remembrance, reflecting light with a solemn gleam. Consider its form in relation to similar vessels across cultures, from ancient Grecian urns to reliquaries housing sacred remains. Here, the urn sits beside a large bowl decorated with figures, perhaps hinting at abundance or ritual. But juxtaposed with these are the dead fowl. This stark contrast evokes memento mori traditions, where symbols of mortality serve as reminders of life's transience. The presence of dead animals, a recurring motif throughout art history, echoes sentiments of vanitas, a reflection on the ephemeral nature of existence. The overall composition serves not merely as a display of objects but as a mirror reflecting our subconscious awareness of life, death, and memory.