Vanitas

The term vanitas refers to a genre of still-life painting that emerged in the Netherlands in the early 17th century. These paintings contain symbolic objects that represent the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of earthly achievements and pleasures, serving as a reminder of mortality.

Audrey Flack, an American painter and sculptor, was a pioneer of Photo-realism. In the 1970s, she applied this technique to her Vanitas series, creating still lifes that included items ranging from flowers to jewelry, and even images of concentration camp prisoners. Notable works from this series include World War II (Vanitas), Marilyn (Vanitas), and Wheel of Fortune (Vanitas). The Latin phrase "vanitas vanitatum, omnia vanitas" translates to "vanity of vanities, all is vanity," emphasizing the ultimate emptiness of earthly life.12345