Originating in the Netherlands during the 16th and 17th centuries, Vanitas became a very widespread type of Dutch master painting.A very dark form of still-life painting flourished as the Vanitas theme began to rise in popularity, as the artworks aimed to remind viewers about their own impending mortality.
Vanitas paintings were seen not only as a mere work of art, but they also carried significant moral messages that saw them being considered as a type of religious reminder.
Towards the end of the Dutch Golden Age, the Vanitas art genre began to lose its public popularity.What continued in the footsteps of Vanitas was the addition of aesthetic beauty to artworks. After Vanitas came to a close, still lifes were astonishingly beautiful until they underwent another change.