The above image is an example of the work produced by Harmen Steenwyck, a Dutch painter active during the 1600’s (the golden age for still-life artwork). Steenwyck is possibly best known for his vanitas artwork, in which he uses skulls and objects to draw attention to mortality, and the inevitability of death. In the above image, Harmen has included a skull as the main focus of the image, concluding that the above image is centered around the theme of mortality, and the fact that no-one can escape it. Harmen also includes a range of other images in this piece of work. The use of green plants (possibly derived from a fruit) is likely a reflection of life, which contrasts the skull in the foreground. The plant appears to be growing out from behind the skull, perhaps reflecting the close connection between life and death, and how one is not itself without the other. Furthermore, the inclusion of a sword is possibly a reflection of high status, as it likely belongs to a soldier or army personnel of a high status (in contrast, the sword could also be a reflection of mortality, and may represent violence and conflict). The inclusion of silverware towards the right of the image also reflects wealth, and so the positioning of all of these prized possessions (including the books and red cloth, perhaps reflecting education and a high social status) as a whole creates a sense of meaningless of these material objects, as they are placed next to the skull and therefore, in the face of death, are redundant. This meaning and imagery within Renaissance still-life artwork was common place, and the use of vanitas was extremely popular, as it opened up a conversation about controversial topics such as mortality in a much more subtle way than ever before.