Pablo Picasso's Girl before a Mirror relates to the theme of vanitas through which of the following elements?
A) the rotten food in the corner reflects the fact that all living things decay
B) the woman looks in a mirror to contemplate her beauty, which will fade over time
C) the realistic depiction of a cemetery reminds us that death is inevitable
D) the instruments remind us that life, like music, is transient
E) the skull on the table represents death

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The woman looking in a mirror symbolizes the fleeting nature of youth and beauty, which will inevitably fade with time. This idea of the transient nature of life and the inevitability of death is a central theme in the concept of vanitas. The other elements listed do not directly relate to the theme of vanitas as strongly as the woman's reflection in the mirror.

Pablo Picasso's Girl Before a Mirror Relates to the Theme