Calendar

Have you ever wondered why an artist would paint a basket of fruit on a table or a collection of seemingly unrelated objects like a skull, book, and wilting flower? For centuries artists have referenced inanimate objects to create vanitas and still life paintings that convey complex messages on the transience of life, knowledge, and earthly delights. This talk by Assistant Curator Rachael Holstege will focus on decoding the symbolism in vanitas and still life paintings from the museum’s permanent collection.