Vanitas
Vanitas is an art genre that uses symbolism to depict the fleeting nature of life, the emptiness of worldly pleasures, and the inevitability of death.
‘Vanitas’ is Latin for vanity, signifying emptiness or the futility of actions. It draws from the verse 'Vanity of Vanities, saith the preacher, all is vanity' (Ecclesiastes 12: 8) in the Old Testament, suggesting that all human deeds are fleeting when compared to the enduring nature of faith.
In paintings of this genre, still-life objects symbolise the impermanence of life. This art style originated in the 16th century and persisted into the 17th century.
Other words in the glossary
Building your collection? We can help.
Your questions, answered
We collaborate with artists to create both limited editions and works on paper.
A limited edition is part of a unique series of pieces. Limited editions are fixed in quantity, meaning we will only ever produce a certain number.
Framing options vary for each piece and are listed on the individual artwork pages. All pieces are framed with 90% UV acrylic glass.
Yes, 100%. We work directly with our artists to create editions that accurately represent their body of work. Additionally, every artist personally reviews and approves their final editions.
Each edition comes with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity (COA) signed by the artist. Additionally every edition will be signed, marked, or numbered on the edition itself.
Works on paper and some originals don't come with a COA.
No—the copyright is not transferred to the purchaser of the edition.
All the ins and outs can be found on our orders and shipping page.
