David Bailley Self Portraits With Vanitas Analysis

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Human language is in constant evolution, from visual communication such as prehistoric cave paintings to memes. It is un-doubtful that we are heading towards a more complex language system. Images whether it be a painting, photograph, street poster, they all contain one thing in common – meaning. Semiotics is a system of signs which is used to encode and decode the meanings of visual or textual information. These systems contain different elements one could use to make meaning from an image. For this assignment I will be analyzing the piece “self-portrait with Vanitas symbols” by David Baily. This image functions as a visual sign that communicate and remind its viewers that nothing lasts forever, and that death is real. The context of …show more content…

For painting, unlike photography a canvas allows the artist to manipulate and show the viewers an idealised version of themselves. Often painters leave icons on their canvas that indicate or contain elements attached to their beliefs and who they are as an artist. David Baily is a Dutch painter born in Leiden. He has had much success in his career especially working for noble princes in Germany. His main genre of painting was vanitas still life’s and portraits. (Getty Museum). In his work ‘‘Self-portraits with Vanitas’’ David depicts a self-portrait of himself sitting in what appears to be his work station. Unlike conventional self portraits which is usually just a picture of the artist - David has a table next to him filled with many objects. Vanitas are painting or works of art that symbolize an end to life or a limit to life. Vanitas remind viewers that life is not for ever and that someday sooner or later death is going to reach you. This was the genre David was known …show more content…

Aside from the portraits indicating the passing of highly significant people in his life. David uses icons to further signify the presence of death and the absence of life. We can clearly depict from the image three bubbles that are floating away. The bubbles will eventually pop as they are just soap bubbles. This is to show the viewer that life does not last forever. In the same fashion there is a candle that appears to have died out of flames and the smoke can be seen immolating from the now lifeless candle. The candle was also not that old, since the wax is still tall- this indicates that at any given time, whether old or young death can find you. In like manner, there are some beautiful bright flowers on the table, however they are without roots suggesting that no matter how beautiful the object may be, death will come upon it. Equally, there is a pot of flower which are in the soil and still show signs of death. There is a toppled glass and one of the most used object to symbolize death as well which is a skull. There is also an hour glass that indicate the passing of time. The jewels on the table as well demonstrate that no matter the amount of fortune you have, none will go with you once it is your

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