Vanitas Painting for Sale

Vanitas paintings are allegories of death, often depicted through still lifes made up of symbolic elements like skulls and butterflies, commonly seen in the works of Philippe Pasqua and Ludo. These works can be vibrant and colorful, like those of Laurence Chiche, or more subdued, as seen in the pieces by Bryan Ley. Other artists, such as Tarek, Skepa, and Ykstreetart, simplify the motif, while artists like Alain Rodier create more detailed representations. Vanitas artworks are generally accompanied by objects linked to death, whether traditionally or personally by the artist. Some artists, like Stan, multiply the motif, while others, such as Eric Liot and Takeru Amano, reinterpret the vanitas concept.

Explore our selection of vanitas paintings now and discover captivating works that capture the essence of this artistic theme. These works invite reflection on life’s impermanence, offering a unique fusion of artistic skill and profound symbolism. Whether through bold contrasts or subtle tones, vanitas paintings continue to captivate art lovers and collectors. Discover how contemporary vanitas artists reimagine this age-old tradition by experimenting with innovative mediums, incorporating urban influences, and blending traditional symbols with modern techniques. Explore Artsper's selection of vanitas paintings to add an emotionally charged and thought-provoking piece to your collection, and immerse yourself in the world of contemporary memento mori.

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Painting, Trauma 1, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, Vanité 7, Laurence Cornou

Laurence Cornou

Painting . 21 x 15 x 0.2 cm Painting . 8.3 x 5.9 x 0.1 inch

€270

Painting, Cat skull, VL.

VL.

Painting . 21 x 21 x 4 cm Painting . 8.3 x 8.3 x 1.6 inch

€100

Painting, Skull Red, Asko

Asko

Painting . 130 x 111 x 0.1 cm Painting . 51.2 x 43.7 x 0 inch

€2,000

Painting, Skull Pink, Asko

Asko

Painting . 132 x 112 x 0.1 cm Painting . 52 x 44.1 x 0 inch

€2,000

Painting, The Time, Emil Aziz

Emil Aziz

Painting . 90 x 100 x 2 cm Painting . 35.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

€4,200

Painting, Purple Skull, Kosta Morr

Kosta Morr

Painting . 120 x 120 x 2 cm Painting . 47.2 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

€2,100

Painting, Flower Skull, Kosta Morr

Kosta Morr

Painting . 80 x 80 x 2 cm Painting . 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

€1,050

Painting, Calavera I, Kosta Morr

Kosta Morr

Painting . 80 x 80 x 2 cm Painting . 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

€1,200

Painting, Smiling Skull, Tigma Art

Tigma Art

Painting . 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€179

Painting, Game, Iryna Iskra

Iryna Iskra

Painting . 80 x 120 x 3 cm Painting . 31.5 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch

€1,130

Painting, Vanité 6, Laurence Cornou

Laurence Cornou

Painting . 21 x 15 x 0.2 cm Painting . 8.3 x 5.9 x 0.1 inch

€270

Painting, Skull In Gold, Asko

Asko

Painting . 120 x 100 x 3.5 cm Painting . 47.2 x 39.4 x 1.4 inch

€3,000

Painting, Ghost skull, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, Veritas, Tarek

Tarek

Painting . 70 x 70 x 3 cm Painting . 27.6 x 27.6 x 1.2 inch

€3,500

Painting, Death skull, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, Alma Roja, GANTHAUS

GANTHAUS

Painting . 122 x 122 x 3 cm Painting . 48 x 48 x 1.2 inch

€1,900

Painting, Vanité 3, Laurence Cornou

Laurence Cornou

Painting . 21 x 15 x 0.2 cm Painting . 8.3 x 5.9 x 0.1 inch

€270

Painting, Black skull, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, Baseball cap, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, Toxic skull, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, Devil skull, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, Rebel skull, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, Crypt skull, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, Trauma 2, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, Trauma 4, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, NYIII, Segreba Amadeo

Segreba Amadeo

Painting . 81 x 130 x 2 cm Painting . 31.9 x 51.2 x 0.8 inch

€3,000

Painting, Vanité 2, Laurence Cornou

Laurence Cornou

Painting . 21 x 15 x 0.2 cm Painting . 8.3 x 5.9 x 0.1 inch

€270

Painting, Vanité 1, Laurence Cornou

Laurence Cornou

Painting . 21 x 15 x 0.2 cm Painting . 8.3 x 5.9 x 0.1 inch

€270

Painting, Motion 16, Eduard Churkin

Eduard Churkin

Painting . 90 x 139 x 4 cm Painting . 35.4 x 54.7 x 1.6 inch

€9,600

Painting, La luna, Alexander Daniloff

Alexander Daniloff

Painting . 29 x 21 x 0.1 cm Painting . 11.4 x 8.3 x 0 inch

€156 €141

Painting, Vanitas, Tarek

Tarek

Painting . 50 x 50 x 4 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

€900

Painting, Pop skull, Lasveguix

Lasveguix

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€200

Painting, Skull, Tarek

Tarek

Painting . 20 x 20 x 1 cm Painting . 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

€140

Painting, Musclor, Daru

Daru

Painting . 60 x 55 x 4 cm Painting . 23.6 x 21.7 x 1.6 inch

€1,200

Painting, The cross, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, Mondo cane, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, Live and let die, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, The King Basquiat, Spaco

Spaco

Painting . 55 x 45 x 3 cm Painting . 21.7 x 17.7 x 1.2 inch

€320

Painting, Scared skull, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, A Sunny Day, Dr. Love

Dr. Love

Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

€50

Painting, Smile, Le Closier

Le Closier

Painting . 101.6 x 76.2 x 2 cm Painting . 40 x 30 x 0.8 inch

€1,211

Painting, King Kong, PyB

PyB

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€190

Painting, Crane fou 19, Spaco

Spaco

Painting . 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

€280

Painting, FlowerSkull, VL.

VL.

Painting . 20 x 20 x 4 cm Painting . 7.9 x 7.9 x 1.6 inch

€70 €63

Painting, Fresh love, Shokkobo Popart

Shokkobo Popart

Painting . 19 x 19 x 0.2 cm Painting . 7.5 x 7.5 x 0.1 inch

€170

Painting, Purgatorio, Tarek

Tarek

Painting . 30 x 30 x 3 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch

€350

Painting, Skull Taipei, Spaco

Spaco

Painting . 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€280

Painting, Skull pink, Spaco

Spaco

Painting . 50 x 50 x 5 cm Painting . 19.7 x 19.7 x 2 inch

€320

Painting, 110M Skull, Spaco

Spaco

Painting . 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting . 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch

€280

Painting, Oxygene Jarre, Spaco

Spaco

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€200

Painting, Ange ou démon, Christy

Christy

Painting . 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€990

Painting, Skull of Goldorak, Tarek

Tarek

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€350

Painting, Skull colors, PyB

PyB

Painting . 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting . 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

€200

Painting, Pietà, Zakhar Shevchuk

Zakhar Shevchuk

Painting . 100 x 130 x 2.5 cm Painting . 39.4 x 51.2 x 1 inch

€4,500

Painting, London Calling, Tarek

Tarek

Painting . 20 x 20 x 2 cm Painting . 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

€150

Painting, What Else, Tarek

Tarek

Painting . 20 x 20 x 2 cm Painting . 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

€150

Painting, Skull Art, Tarek

Tarek

Painting . 24 x 14 x 2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inch

€140

Painting, Life, Tarek

Tarek

Painting . 24 x 14 x 2 cm Painting . 9.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inch

€140

Need help with Vanitas Painting ?
What is a vanitas painting and what are its key features?

A vanitas painting is a type of still life artwork that originated in the 16th and 17th centuries. It typically features objects such as skulls, hourglasses, and wilting flowers, which symbolize the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. Other common elements include books, musical instruments, and mirrors, which represent knowledge, pleasure, and vanity, respectively. The overall message of a vanitas painting is to remind viewers of the transience of earthly pleasures and the importance of spiritual contemplation.

What was the purpose of vanitas paintings and what message did they convey?

Vanitas paintings were created to remind viewers of the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. They often featured symbols such as skulls, hourglasses, and wilting flowers to convey this message. The purpose was to encourage viewers to reflect on the transience of earthly pleasures and focus on spiritual and moral values.

Who were some of the most famous artists known for creating vanitas paintings and what were their contributions to the genre?

Some of the most famous artists known for creating vanitas paintings include Pieter Claesz, Willem Claesz Heda, and Harmen Steenwyck. They contributed to the genre by creating still life paintings that depicted the transience of life and the inevitability of death, often featuring symbols such as skulls, hourglasses, and extinguished candles.