Vanitas | Jan Fris | 1672 16th Century capturing the enduring tension between

capturing the enduring tension between the natural world and the slumbering city beneath

limp figure creates a haunting atmosphere — she almost appears deceased

with a sword

and a reverence for medieval and Renaissance art

animated dolls dressed in elaborate costumes appear to come to life

Vanitas | Jan Fris | 1672 16th Century capturing the enduring tension betweenThe Vanitas pictures emerged beginning with the late years of the 15th century. These pictures have a symbolic meaning, as most old paintings in art history: they are a representation of Vanity and also Vainglory (unjustified boasting). It describes through the visual language the meaningless in the efforts of gathering valuable material objects, earthly goods and pursuits and the ephemerality of earthly pleasures: in the middle of the richly depicted