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Grey and brown tints dominate this composition, and a shadow spreads slowly over the wall. The painting
alludes to the fleetingness of life. The battered books allude to transience. The music produced by the lute
is momentary, a symbol of the brevity of life. A literal reference to death is inscribed on the sheet of paper
draped over the table’s edge: ‘finis’ ([the] end).

Details

  • Title: Still Life with Books
  • Creator: Heem, Jan Davidsz. de
  • Date Created: 1625 - 1630
  • Physical Dimensions: paneel
  • Rights: http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

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