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The worship of objects today has surpassed every possible milestone: there is always somenthing we want more of, and since modern inventions never stop to surprise us we almost always end up never being satisfied.
Such an attachment to things was what led in the seventeenth century during the Protestant Reformation and the so-called Dutch "Golden Age" to the birth of a new artistic genre called "Vanitas." Influenced by the religious, philosophical and scientific developments of the time, this allegorical subject emphasized the fleeting nature of human existence and the need for spiritual as well as purely material reflection.
Especially in the north of Europe, Lutheran religion insisted on citizens to scale back their attachment to material goods. But how? Obviously through the most fashionable communication at the time -- art, and in particular painting.
The art genre of Vanitas was born precisely for this purpose; they use a wide range of symbols and allegorical elements to convey their profound message. Certain symbols, carefully chosen to represent the transience of life, led the viewer to think about the inevitability of death and to emphasize the eternal nature of the soul over the material nature of things.
Among the most represented symbols were: the skull, a prominent motif in the Vanitas paintings, which symbolized the inevitability of death and the equal nature of mortal
Among the most represented symbols are: the skull, a prominent motif in Vanitas paintings, which symbolized the inevitability of death and the equal nature of mortality. It served as a reminder that all human beings are destined to face the same fate, regardless of their earthly achievements or social status.
The hourglass, with its sands flowing away, represents the passage of time and the brevity of human life. It invited spectators to reflect on the limited time available for worldly activities and the need to focus on spiritual contemplation.
Finally, exotic fruits and flowers, also had symbolic value in the Vanitas works. In particular, vibrant, ripe fruits and ephemeral flowers symbolized the transient nature of physical beauty and pleasure. They served as a reminder of the fleeting joys and ultimate decay of all things.
An open book or an unrolled scroll in paintings conveyed the pursuit of knowledge and worldly accomplishments. Yet in the contest of a vanitas paintings, they often appeared alongside other objects of mortality, suggesting that intellectual achievements and worldly wisdom are ultimately empty in the face of death.
Musical instruments, such as lutes or violins, symbolized the temporal nature of earthly pleasures. They represented the transitory nature of joy and entertainment, inviting viewers to contemplate the futility of seeking lasting happiness solely through sensory experiences.
The art of Vanitas aimed to instill in viewers a sense of humility, introspection and recognition of the impermanence of life. It urged individuals to turn their attention away from worldly vanities and toward eternal salvation. By juxtaposing objects of temporal pleasure with symbols of mortality, vanitas paintings sought to inspire viewers to contemplate the meaning of life, the afterlife, and the quest for spiritual fulfillment.
