Vanitas as an art genre

In the exhibition Andy Warhol: Vanitas, the transience of life is central. Warhol was often tormented by fears about his health and the emptiness of fame and material possessions. These themes are central to Warhol's beliefs and are expressed in a particularly cynical Warholian style. At the same time, they are universal and have a long history in art.

The Rijksmuseum and Vanitas

The word 'vanitas' comes from Latin and means vanity, in the sense of futility or uselessness. The exhibition Andy Warhol: Vanitas not only includes Warhol's work but also a selection of works by Dutch engravers and painters from the 17th century, borrowed from the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Vanitas artworks

The exhibited works from the Rijksmuseum's collection date from the mid-17th century to the early 18th century. They were part of a long tradition of spiritual lessons in art form. Vanitas works served as a reminder that death is an inevitable part of life. Humanity had only two possible paths: the oblivion of death and damnation, or salvation, made possible through religious piety. Vanitas images are part of a larger still-life tradition that flourished for hundreds of years, particularly in the Netherlands but also elsewhere in Europe. Patrick Moore, Emeritus Director of The Andy Warhol Museum, says about this: “Many classic still lifes had a less moralizing tone than the Vanitas prints in this exhibition, but their presentation of dead animals, often rotting fruit, and cut flowers (which are also naturally dead) carried the reminder of the fleeting nature of life. The presentation of Vanitas works in this exhibition suggests a possible interpretation of Warhol's work as a contemporary reminder that the material pleasures of life are fleeting and empty."

Warhol and the Rijksmuseum

Throughout his life, Andy Warhol preserved almost everything, including his admission ticket to the Rijksmuseum on August 9, 1956. During this visit, he could have seen the Vanitas still life by Jacques de Claeuw. "We cannot say with absolute certainty that Warhol saw this painting during his visit, but it is likely that this trip contributed to his overall appreciation of Dutch masters. It may have influenced his work, which is particularly evident in the dark, brooding themes seen in the Vanitas exhibition," said Amber Morgan, Director of Collections and Exhibitions at The Andy Warhol Museum.

Andy Warhol and Vanitas

Warhol varied in his presentation of death in his work, but this exhibition contains abundant examples of his obsession with the subject. Skulls are a recurring symbol in Warhol's oeuvre. Around 1976, Warhol purchased a skull and photographed it. He used these photos as the basis for an extensive series of drawings, prints, and paintings.

Vanitas-related themes are expressed in Warhol's artworks, but they are also evident in the objects from his Time Capsules, which uniquely capture time and transience.

Warhol's numerous images of skulls and tragedies not only depict the fleeting nature of life but also surprisingly embrace its temporality. Warhol's work is not only dark and somber but also unmistakably 'campy.' A self-portrait of Warhol balancing a skull on his head speaks volumes about his perspective on life and death.