Vain Collection (#8)

The Ages and Death. Artist: Baldung, Hans (1484-1545)
The Ages and Death. Found in the collection of Museo del Prado, Madrid

Old Woman Tearing at her Hair. Artist: Massys, Quentin (1466?1530)
Old Woman Tearing at her Hair. Found in the collection of Museo del Prado, Madrid

Lost Illusions (The Evening). Artist: Gleyre, Charles (1808-1874)
Lost Illusions (The Evening). Found in the collection of Louvre, Paris

The Haywain, Allegory of the Vanity of the World. Artist: Mostaert, Gillis (1534-1598)
The Haywain, Allegory of the Vanity of the World. Found in the collection of Louvre, Paris

The Grieving Mother, 1890. Artist: Minne, George, Baron (1866-1941)
The Grieving Mother, 1890. Found in the collection of the Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Ghent

Mourning women, c. 1913. Artist: Moser, Koloman (1868-1918)
Mourning women, c. 1913. From a private collection

Death and the Miser, ca 1485. Artist: Bosch, Hieronymus (c. 1450-1516)
Death and the Miser, ca 1485. Found in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington

Memento Mori, Early16th cen Artist: Previtali, Andrea (ca 1480-1528)
Memento Mori, Early16th cen.. Found in the collection of the Museo Poldi Pezzoli, Milan

Allegory of Vanity, 1632-1636. Artist: Pereda y Salgado, Antonio, de (1611-1678)
Allegory of Vanity, 1632-1636. Found in the collection of the Art History Museum, Vienne

Vanity (La Vanita), 1897. Artist: Segantini, Giovanni (1858-1899)
Vanity (La Vanita), 1897. Found in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zurich

Banquet with Musicians, ca. 1600. Artist: Passe, Crispijn van de, the Elder (1564-1637)
Banquet with Musicians, ca. 1600. From a private collection

The Three Ages. Artist: Backer, Jacob, de (1540 / 45-ca. 1600)
The Three Ages. Found in the collection of the State Hermitage, St. Petersburg

Trompe l oeil with Studio Wall and Vanitas Still Life, 1668. Artist: Gijsbrechts
Trompe l oeil with Studio Wall and Vanitas Still Life, 1668. Found in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen

Vanity Still Life (Christ in the House of Martha and Mary), 1552. Artist: Aertsen, Pieter (1508-1575)
Vanity Still Life (Christ in the House of Martha and Mary), 1552. Found in the collection of the Art History Museum, Vienne

Isle of the Dead, 1883. Artist: Bocklin, Arnold (1827-1901)
Isle of the Dead, 1883. Found in the collection of the Staatliche Museen, Berlin

Harlequin and Death, 1918. Artist: Somov, Konstantin Andreyevich (1869-1939)
Harlequin and Death, 1918. From a private collection

Vanitas, 1520-1524. Found in the collection of Pinacoteca dell Accademia dei Concordi, Rovigo

Mortal man (Parable), Early 18th cen Artist: Russian icon
Mortal man (Parable), Early 18th cen.. Found in the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

A Girl Student, 1904. Artist: Myasoedov, Grigori Grigoryevich (1834-1911)
A Girl Student, 1904. Found in the collection of the Regional Art Museum, Poltava

Vanity Still Life. Found in the Collection of Art History Museum, Vienne

Vanity Still Life (Christ in the House of Martha and Mary). Found in the Collection of Art History Museum, Vienne

The death between seven heads. Private Collection

Vanity. Found in the Collection of Hofburg Brixen

Vanitas Still Life. Artist: Collier, Edwaert (1642-1708)
Vanitas Still Life. Private Collection

Vanitas Still Life, 1662. Artist: Collier, Edwaert (1642-1708)
Vanitas Still Life, 1662. Private Collection

Vanitas Still Life, 1632. Artist: Collier, Edwaert (1642-1708)
Vanitas Still Life, 1632. Private Collection

Mourning the Death of Michail Vrubel, 1910-1911. Artist: Denisov, Vasily Ivanovich (1862-1921)
Mourning the Death of Michail Vrubel, 1910-1911. Found in the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Ecclesiastes (Vanity of vanities, all is vanity), 1899. Artist: Asknazy, Isaac Lvovich (1856-1902)
Ecclesiastes (Vanity of vanities, all is vanity), 1899. Found in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Academy, St. Petersburg

B the Bumptious, 1903. Artist: John Hassall
B the Bumptious, 1903. An initial letter B from a child alphabet. From An A.B.C. of Everyday People, by G. E. Farrow. [Dean & Son Limited, London, 1903]

A Man of the Time of William and Mary, 1907. Artist: Dion Clayton Calthrop
A Man of the Time of William and Mary, 1907. From English Costume, painted and described by Dion Clayton Calthrop. [Adam & Charles Black, London, 1907]

A Man of the Time of Richard II, 1907. Artist: Dion Clayton Calthrop
A Man of the Time of Richard II, 1907. From English Costume, painted and described by Dion Clayton Calthrop. [Adam & Charles Black, London, 1907]

Narcissus, 1882. A print from The Magazine of Art Vol V, Cassell, Peter, Galpin and Company, Limited, 1882

Admiration. A vain woman admiring her reflection in a mirror

The Charming Brute, (A satire on Handel), 1754. The German composer Handel, here depicted as a pig, had a huge appetite. Here he is at his organ, sitting on a barrel of ale, surrounded by poultry

Allegory of Death (Book of Hours), c. 1510. Artist: Master of Jacques de Besancon (active 1500-1515)
Allegory of Death (Book of Hours), c. 1510. Found in the collection of the Free Library of Philadelphia

The visit at the death. From the Series Capriccios, Mid of the 18th cen Artist: Tiepolo, Giambattista (1696-1770)
The visit at the death. From the Series Capriccios, Mid of the 18th cen.. Found in the collection of the State Hermitage, St. Petersburg

The Three Ages of Man (Reading a Song), c. 1501. Artist: Giorgione (1476-1510)
The Three Ages of Man (Reading a Song), c. 1501. Found in the collection of the Palazzo Pitti, Florence

The Triumph of Death, ca 1445-1447. Artist: Anonymous
The Triumph of Death, ca 1445-1447. Found in the collection of the Palazzo Abatellis, Palermo

Time orders Old Age to destroy Beauty, 1746. Artist: Batoni, Pompeo Girolamo (1708-1787)
Time orders Old Age to destroy Beauty, 1746. Found in the collection of the National Gallery, London

Death Comes to the Banquet Table (Memento Mori), c. 1635. Artist: Martinelli, Giovanni (1604-1659)
Death Comes to the Banquet Table (Memento Mori), c. 1635. Found in the collection of the New Orleans Museum of Art

Where gold speaks, every tongue is silent. (Dove l oro parla, ogni lingua tace), 1678. From a private collection

Vanitas. Artist: Paolini, Pietro (1603-1682)
Vanitas. Found in the collection of the State Hermitage, St. Petersburg

Vanitas Still Life, 1648. Artist: Treck, Jan Jansz. (1605-1652)
Vanitas Still Life, 1648. Found in the collection of the National Gallery, London

Allegory of Wealth and Luxury, 1611. Artist: Swanenburgh, Willem van (1582-1616)
Allegory of Wealth and Luxury, 1611. From a private collection

Allegory of the Vanity and Transitory Nature of Worldly Possessions, 1608. Artist: Swanenburgh, Willem van (1582-1616)
Allegory of the Vanity and Transitory Nature of Worldly Possessions, 1608. From a private collection

Death with an Arrow About to Strike the Man Down, 1609. Artist: Swanenburgh, Willem van (1582-1616)
Death with an Arrow About to Strike the Man Down, 1609. From a private collection

An Allegory of the Vanities of Human Life, c. 1640. Artist: Steenwijck, Harmen (1612-1656)
An Allegory of the Vanities of Human Life, c. 1640. Found in the collection of the National Gallery, London

Jan Uytenbogaert, the Goldweigher, 1639. Artist: Rembrandt van Rhijn (1606-1669)
Jan Uytenbogaert, the Goldweigher, 1639. From a private collection

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"Vanity Unveiled: A Captivating Glimpse into the Human Obsession with Self" In Arnold Bocklin's "Self-portrait with Death Playing the Fiddle, " vanity dances in harmony with mortality. The artist's blue dress from 1922, reminiscent of a frothy beer, symbolizes indulgence and self-absorption. Lovis Corinth's haunting "Selfportrait with skeleton" serves as a chilling reminder that even beauty succumbs to decay. Antoine Wiertz captures the essence of vanity in "The Two Young Girls - The Beautiful Rosine. " Their delicate features and coquettish smiles reflect an obsession with outward appearance. Meanwhile, "The Last Stand Of The Northamptons At Saran Sar" showcases how pride can lead to downfall on the battlefield. Daniel Maclise's portrayal of Malvolio and the Countess depicts the folly of arrogance, while Narcissus' infatuation with his own reflection in c. 1597-99 reveals a dangerous self-love. Konstantin Andreyevich Somov's whimsical "Harlequin and Death" reminds us that vanity blinds us to our inevitable fate. "Fable / Fox & Grapes" teaches us about unattainable desires born out of conceit, while Princess Ka-Iulani embodies both grace and vulnerability amidst societal expectations. Lastly, a photomontage showcasing women adorned in feathered hats highlights society's obsession with fashion as a means for validation. Through these captivating artworks spanning centuries, we witness humanity grappling with its own image – forever entranced by its own reflection yet blind to its fleeting nature. Vanity remains an enigmatic force that drives us towards self-obsession but also exposes our deepest insecurities.