Harmen Steenwyck (1612-1656)

Harmen Steenwyck was a 16th century Dutch painter trained by David Bailly. Like most painters of his time many of his paintings were Venita's. Venita's were suppose to warn people about putting too much value in earthly pocession because they lead to death.

(An Allegory of the Venita's Of Human Life by Harmen Steenwyck 1640 oil on wood

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(Harmen Steenwyck Vanitie 1640) 
What I like for these first two Harmen Steenwyck vanities the light seems to be coming form a window. In both the light gives a soft look to the painting and the feeling that the room is dark except for the light giving it contrast. Both are beautifully composed drawling your eye to the skull and then to the surrounding objects. For the first painting the colors are more vibrant giving it more dimension and more contrast for the shadows.In the second painting the colors are earth tones and sortive flatwith less dimension and contrast.