Still life with skull, candle and book 1866

Editor: This is Paul Cézanne's "Still Life with Skull, Candle and Book" from 1866, done in oil paint. It's a little eerie, honestly. The heavy brushstrokes give the objects a lot of weight. The skull is very prominent and there's a sense of… foreboding. How do you interpret this work? Art Historian: I see a powerful embodiment of "Vanitas," a tradition reminding us of life's brevity and the emptiness of earthly pleasures. These elements—skull, candle, book—are loaded with symbolism. The skull, obviously represents death, but how does the candle's presence impact your interpretation, given its state? Editor: Well, the candle is mostly gone, melted down, right? Maybe time slipping away… fading light, like life. Is the book supposed to be about knowledge? Does that tie into this "Vanitas" idea somehow? Art Historian: Exactly. Books often represented knowledge, or even fleeting intellectual pursuits. Considering this alongside the decaying candle, we're asked to question the lasting value of these things. Does intellectual prowess, in the grand scheme, truly triumph over mortality? Editor: It’s like Cézanne is using these very tangible objects to grapple with big existential questions. It’s quite bold actually, especially the way the forms seem almost aggressively rendered. It really gets your attention! Art Historian: The rough brushwork intensifies the emotional impact, wouldn’t you agree? Rather than presenting a detached still life, it actively engages with our awareness of death and the transient nature of existence, urging us to ponder what truly endures. Editor: It makes you wonder what Cézanne himself was contemplating when he painted it. It feels so personal. Thanks. Art Historian: It was a pleasure to connect through visual symbols. These objects become vehicles for transmitting cultural memory, encouraging dialogue across generations.