Vanitas Symbolism

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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
• Take a few minutes to sketch one of the Vanitas
  still life paintings on iPad power point.
• Label the symbolism by using the glossary on PPT.
• Use the symbolism links to look up symbolism for
  a 3objects of your choice.
• Create meaning for your still life objects.
• What could the story be?
• 1215 - 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.
• 1220 Group in-progress critique.

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Harmen Steenwyck
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Adriaen van Utrecht
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Adam Bernaert
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Kevin Best
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Kevin Best
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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.
• Artists 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.

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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. 

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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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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 appleFeathers symbolize the
  virtues of hope, faith, and charity (in religious
  works), and they represent freedom (by enabling
  flight) and the heavens.

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• 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, its 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.

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• 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 womans 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.   

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Joseph Cusimano Symbolism

• http//www.josephcusimano.com/glossary/index.htm

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Links to symbolism dictionaries

• Symbolism Dictionary- http//www.umich.edu/umfand
  sf/symbolismproject/symbolism.html/
• Dream Dictionary- http//www.dreammoods.com/dream
  dictionary/a.htm
• http//www.dreamdictionary.org/l/

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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 1215.
6. In progress critique at 1220.

Objective You will analyze the symbolism in
Vanitas Still Life paintings in order to select
and apply meaning to your own still life.
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Statement Still Life

• 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
• Why did you choose your objects?
  
• Is there a possible story?
• How can you be you and show your style and/ or
  creativity?
• How are you going to shade? Which technique?
• What material(s) are you going to use?
• Composition Consider drawing it BIG and
  arranging it asymmetrically.

Ann Kullberg
Objective You will analyze your composition and
describe your symbolism in order to create a
statement still life.
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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
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Partners

• AP
• Kira
• Alayna
• Katelyn
• Stephanie
• Jessica

• GT
• Cierra
• Monica
• Bryan
• Kristina
• Skyler

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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)?

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HANG YOUR IN-PROGRESS STILL LIFE ON THE BOARD.
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Statement Still Life

• Objective You will analyze variables of a still
  life in order to select and apply ideas to your
  artwork.
• VERBAL DRILL on next slide
• Take two pics (beginning and end of class) of
  your in-progress still life. Save to your Edmodo
  backpack.
• We are going on a FIELD TRIP to Shop 5 and my
  car to get some supplies.

IMPLEMENT BLUE - MARGARET PRESTON oil on canvas
on hardboard, 1927, 42 x 43, New South Wales,
Australia
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Statement Still Life

• Objective You will analyze variables of a still
  life in order to select and apply ideas to your
  artwork.
• VERBAL DRILL
• Describe the
• Positions of the objects
• Lighting
• Style
• Possible story
• By the end of class write the symbolism and
  story that your still life is telling.

IMPLEMENT BLUE - MARGARET PRESTON oil on canvas
on hardboard, 1927, 42 x 43, New South Wales,
Australia
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Statement Still Life
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.
IMPLEMENT BLUE - MARGARET PRESTON oil on canvas
on hardboard, 1927, 42 x 43, New South Wales,
Australia
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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 - Use art medium that will add
  to your portfolio, new or an extension of your
  fav.
• Challenge yourself- size, detail, materials.
• Be you- Use your style, add creative elements.

Ann Kullberg
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