Skull and Hourglass 1714 - 1814

C.A. Jensen painted this "Skull and Hourglass" with oil on canvas, presenting a stark meditation on time and mortality. The composition is anchored by the skull, its off-white hue stark against the dark background. The texture, meticulously rendered, invites a close visual inspection, contrasting the organic form of the skull with the geometric exactness of the hourglass. The hourglass, a symbol of fleeting time, stands adjacent, its transparent glass revealing the diminishing sand. Jensen uses the contrast between the objects' textures and forms to highlight the inevitable passage of time and the decay inherent in life. The deep shadows enveloping the scene serve to isolate these objects, intensifying their symbolic weight. The somber palette and careful arrangement prompt a contemplation of existential themes. This painting transcends a simple still life, functioning as a profound visual essay on the transient nature of existence.