Vanitas Symbolism Objective: You will analyze the symbolism in Vanitas Still Life paintings in order to select and apply meaning to your own still life. DRILL: 1. Take a few minutes to sketch one of the Vanitas still life paintings on iPad power point. 2. Label the symbolism by using the glossary on PPT. 3. Use the symbolism links to look up symbolism for a 3+objects of your choice. 4. Create meaning for your still life objects. 5. What could the story be? 12:15 - At the end of class- you will work with a partner to talk about your meaning and the qualities of your artwork. AP paired with GT. 12:20 – Group in-progress critique.

Harmen Steenwyck

Adriaen van Utrecht

Adam Bernaert

Kevin Best

Vanitas Symbolism  Skull: Death, this is a clear memento mori message or the transience of life, a universally recognized symbol of death.  Watch or hourglass: time is limited and is passing, therefore, use it wisely. See a typical one-handle XVII century watch at the lower right of the photo.  Books: Human knowledge and its temporary nature.  Artist’s instruments e.g. Palette, brushes, easel: Indulgence in the arts, very few could afford to be painters let alone patronize the arts.  Shell: they were normally exotic ones not commonly available in the Netherlands. They were a symbol of the vanity that comes with wealth, as these were exotic items at the time, only a very wealthy person would have one of those.

Vanitas Symbolism  Insects, decaying flowers: transience of life. They were inserted in paintings depicting expensive objects as a reminder that life is temporary and moral considerations deserved more attention than material things.  Broken or tipped over glassware: transience of life or life is fleeting.  Musical instruments: indulgence of the senses as a luxury. Sometimes they are present as artistic inspiration, as music would inspire artists.  Silk or velvet tablecloths: vanity, as these were expensive things. Silk being the ultimate fabric material and purple the most expensive dye, hence the Roman emperors wore purple tunics.

Vanitas Symbolism  Oriental rugs or carpets: These were prohibitively expensive items, carpets were placed on tables to avoid stepping on them and causing decay in their colors or integrity. They were a symbol of wealth but also a sign of pride as they were items brought into the United Provinces through trade and commerce.  Jewelry, clothes or mirrors: remember the temporary nature of beauty, wealth and wisdom. Earthly riches are temporary and therefore life should be carried out according to the modesty traditions that were in place at the time.  Mirror: a clear symbol of the vanity that should be avoided.  Jars: Stoneware or porcelain were used for water or oil, both substance sustain life at the time.

 The skull is a reminder of the inevitability of death. Just as the portrait is only a reflection of once-living person and the skull is only the form of once-living head. The spectator must perceive it as “flipping”, it most clearly symbolizes the frailty of human life.  Rotten fruit is a symbol of aging. Mature fruits symbolize fertility, abundance, in the figurative sense of wealth and well-being. A number of fruit has its value: fall of man is denoted by pears, tomatoes, citrus fruit, grapes, peaches and cherries, and of course Apple. Erotic undertones are figs, plums, cherries, apples or peaches.  Flowers (fading); Rose is the flower of Venus, symbol of love and sex, that vain, as is inherent. Poppy is a depressant that produces opium, the character of mortal sin of laziness. Tulip is a collectible in the Netherlands of the 17th century, the symbol of the folly, irresponsible and unreasonable treatment bestowed by God.

 Sea shells, sometimes living snail, a mollusc shell is the remains of once-living animal, it means death and frailty. Creeping is the personification of death Sin snail laziness. Large shellfish represent the duality of nature, symbol of lust, even one of the deadly sins.  Fuming candle or oil lamp is a symbol of the human soul, its loss symbolizes the care.  Cups, playing cards or dice, chess (rarely) is a sign of faulty life goal, finding pleasures and sinful life. Equality of opportunity in gambling meant also the reprehensible anonymity. Cigar tube — a symbol of transient and elusive of earthly delights.  Mirrors, glass balls — a symbol of vanity, mirror, reflection, shadow sign too.

 Musical instruments, music page – brevity and the ephemeral nature of life, a symbol of art.  Books & maps (mappa mundi), the pen is the symbol of Sciences Pentium.  The globe – is the Earth and sky.  Palette with brushes, a laurel wreath (usually on a skull), is painting and poetry. Portraits of beautiful women, anatomical drawings. Vanitas  Coin purses, jewelry boxes, jewelry and cosmetics are designed to create beauty, feminine appeal, while at the same time they are linked with the vanity, narcissism and the mortal sin of arrogance. They also signal of their owners’ absense.

 Lemons (in earlier times) was a very expensive food item, and a popular item used, especially peeled with its attractive play of lights on translucent flesh, yet they are so sour and bitter, and in this symbolizes the deceptive allure or attraction of earthly beauty.  Artichokes, asparagus and strawberries were, for their part, symbolic of the fruits of Paradise or Heaven. Flowers have long been included as a still life subject. Different flowers hold different meanings. They can symbolize innocence, the four seasons, or religious symbols. The rose for instance, stands for love, the lily for purity, and the sunflower for devotion. Birds, or a pair of birds represent the resurrection of the soul after death. The bee, as well as the butterfly, are symbols of hope, and because they are rather delicate, are a reminder to the fragility of life. The mouse, being a very fertile animal, became a symbol of lechery and destruction. Ivy, as an evergreen symbolizes eternal life. The peach symbolizes truth and salvation, and is used as a replacement to the maligned apple Feathers symbolize the virtues of hope, faith, and charity (in religious works), and they represent freedom (by enabling flight) and the heavens.

 Shells, in a religious work, represent pilgrimages, or saints. The clam symbolize the Virgin Mary. In contemporary works, they symbolize sensuality and the pleasures of the flesh. Skulls or bones, when in the painting, symbolize mortality. The skull also represent inner contemplation, and eternity.  Books: learning or of transmitting knowledge. The Lute (a really old version of a guitar) with broken strings: Death or discord. The candle, it’s a big one and has lots of meanings. It can indicate the passing of time, faith in God (when its burning). When extinguished, it means death, or the loss of virginity, and the corruption of matter. It can symbolize light in the darkness of a lonely individual, or the light of Christ, purification or cleansing. The clock: the passing of time. Mirror: stands for truth or vanity. By showing an image of a subject that reflect what others see. This self awareness allows fruitful introspection and the viewers attempt to find the truth, or lead to simple vanity.

 The apple: Another big one in that there are many meanings. It can signify love, knowledge, wisdom, joy, and death. In religious works it usually means temptation, and original sin. The apple is also associated with a woman’s anatomy, breasts in particular, and then the core of the halved apple representing her sexuality or reproductive parts. The sword also a common item in earlier works, but not used much in contemporary art. It symbolizes power, protection, authority, strength, courage. It is phallic, (with the sheath representing the female reproductive parts) and many paintings with soldiers, swords and women in the painting had the sexual overtones within their meaning. Artists during the renaissance era also used things like monkeys, parrots and other birds, and cats. The parrot, the birds, and the cat – like the monkey – personify specifically human failings. The monkey represents chaos. They also symbolize man entrapped by earthly and sensual desires. When the monkey is depicted holding an apple, it represented the fall of man. The Cat: usually meant illicit love. Medieval times the cat represented lust and prostitutes (now you know where the term “cat house” comes from). But in later paintings, it is included to help provide a peaceful and enjoyable companion with which they are depicted. For centuries cats are considered mysterious, beautiful, and exotic.

Joseph Cusimano Symbolism 

Links to symbolism dictionaries:  Symbolism Dictionary- smproject/symbolism.html/ smproject/symbolism.html/  Dream Dictionary- nary/a.htm nary/a.htm 

What will your objects mean? 1. List symbolism for 3+ objects on the symbolism dictionary or dream dictionary. 2. What do you want your objects to mean? 3. Share this with partner at the end of class. 4. Work on still life drawing. 5. Partner explaination at 12: In progress critique at 12:20. Objective: You will analyze the symbolism in Vanitas Still Life paintings in order to select and apply meaning to your own still life.

Statement Still Life Ann Kullberg DIRECTIONS: ~Set up your still life objects and continue drawing your objects. ~GET STARTED ASAP! We will work with partners at the end of class, then hang all drawings on the STUDIO ART BOARD in the back. THINKING PROMPTS for partner critique: 1.Why did you choose your objects? 2.Is there a possible story? 3.How can you be you and show your style and/ or creativity? 4.How are you going to shade? Which technique? 5.What material(s) are you going to use? 6.Composition~ Consider drawing it BIG and arranging it asymmetrically. Objective: You will analyze your composition and describe your symbolism in order to create a statement still life.

Goals For this Still Life  Represents reality- use shading  Composition is successful- Big objects touching sides, asymmetrical layout  Story and/ or symbolism- What does it say?  Portfolio quality  Challenge yourself- size, detail, materials.  Use art medium that will add to your portfolio, new or an extension of your fav.  Be you- Use your style, add creative elements. Ann Kullberg

Partners AP  Kira  Alayna  Katelyn  Stephanie  Jessica GT  Cierra  Monica  Bryan  Kristina  Skyler

Partner questions 1. Why did you choose your objects? What symbolism do they have? 2. What is the story? 3. How are you being you? 4. Composition~ Size, view, placement, rule of thirds 5. Skills- contours, shading 6. Suggestion(s)?

HANG YOUR IN- PROGRESS STILL LIFE ON THE BOARD.

Statement Still Life IMPLEMENT BLUE - MARGARET PRESTON oil on canvas on hardboard, 1927, 42 x 43, New South Wales, Australia Objective: You will analyze variables of a still life in order to select and apply ideas to your artwork. VERBAL DRILL on next slide: 1.Take two pics (beginning and end of class) of your in-progress still life. Save to your Edmodo backpack. 2.We are going on a ‘FIELD TRIP’ to Shop 5 and my car to get some supplies.

Statement Still Life IMPLEMENT BLUE - MARGARET PRESTON oil on canvas on hardboard, 1927, 42 x 43, New South Wales, Australia Objective: You will analyze variables of a still life in order to select and apply ideas to your artwork. VERBAL DRILL: Describe the: 1.Positions of the objects 2.Lighting 3.Style 4.Possible story By the end of class~ write the symbolism and story that your still life is telling.

Statement Still Life IMPLEMENT BLUE - MARGARET PRESTON oil on canvas on hardboard, 1927, 42 x 43, New South Wales, Australia Objective: You will analyze variables of a still life in order to select and apply ideas to your artwork. GET STARTED ASAP. TAKE THE FULL PERIOD TO WORK ON YOUR STILL LIFE. WHEN YOU FINISH- LOOK AT SURREAL LESSON AND START TO PLAN. REMINDER: HOMEWORK DUE ON TUESDAY.

Goals For this Still Life 1. Represents reality- use shading 2. Composition is successful- Big objects touching sides, asymmetrical layout 3. Story and/ or symbolism- What does it say? 4. Portfolio quality - Use art medium that will add to your portfolio, new or an extension of your fav. 5. Challenge yourself- size, detail, materials. 6. Be you- Use your style, add creative elements. Ann Kullberg