What is the intent behind the use of vanitas symbols such as those in Jan Steen's The Dancing Couple?
A) to symbolize eternal punishment for Protestants who indulge in sin
B) to show Dutch domesticity
C) to remind the viewer of the fleeting nature of human life
D) to rally support for the Catholic Church in seventeenth-century Dutch culture

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The intent behind the use of vanitas symbols such as those in Jan Steen's The Dancing Couple is to remind the viewer of the fleeting nature of human life. Vanitas symbols often include objects like hourglasses, skulls, and extinguished candles, all of which symbolize the transience of human existence. The theme of vanitas was popular in Dutch still life painting in the seventeenth century.

What Is the Intent Behind the Use of Vanitas Symbols