Historic Painting: “Self-Portrait with Vanitas Symbols” by David Bailly, 1651.

This curious painting is obviously of the Old Masters school of the 17th century, and in fact was painted by Dutch artist David Bailly about 1651, evidently a portrait of himself. This is, however, more than just a self-portrait or even a slightly odd one. Bailly could have painted just himself staring out of a frame, but instead he chose to include the strange objects on the table in front of him: pictures of both men and women, flower blossoms, a glass of what looks like beer but is most probably oil of some kind, jewelry, and most prominently a human skull. Notice also the soap bubbles drifting inexplicably through the scene, as if there’s a small child with a bubble wand just out of sight.