In celebration of the fall season, I have created a still life in the tradition of a Dutch Vanitas. Vanitas, or “vanity”, paintings incorporate macabre motifs to symbolize the transient nature of life. Some of the symbols are obvious, such as skulls, watches, and hourglasses. Other symbols, all representing the shortness of life in some way, include rotting fruit, flowers in various states of robustness and decay, seashells, sea food, bubbles, smoke, books, instruments, small game, butterflies, and wine…Read the rest on 500px.