Frans Hals - Young Man holding a skull (Vanitas) (1626-8)

 

Relevance to my work:

Hals painting of the young man holding a skull creates a similar effect to that of Warhol’s Skull prints by putting together the image of a young man and the symbol of death. This creates a feel of the brevity of life and draws the viewers’ attention to the vanitas theme within the title.

 

 

“This painting is not a portrait. It is intended as a vanitas, a reminder of the transience of life and certainty of death. The subject of a young man holding a skull belongs to a well-established Netherlandish tradition. It can be traced back to engravings of the early 16th century. The flamboyant clothing recalls that used by the Dutch followers of Caravaggio.”

 

The National Gallery

 

This shows a distinct comparison between the fragile young age of the boy and the frankness of the symbolism of the skull. It is uncomfortable to picture the young dying.