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17th-century Dutch painting of men gambling, drinking, and playing music around a table with a skull, broken mirror, and candles, cityscape background.

17th-century Dutch painting of men gambling, drinking, and playing music around a table with a skull, broken mirror, and candles, cityscape background.

A 17th-century Dutch oil painting on panel by Cornelis Ketel depicting the Allegory of the Foolishness of the World. The central figure,Vanitas, is a skull adorned with various objects symbolizing the transience of life, including a broken column, a shattered mirror, and a burning candle. Surrounding the skull are figures representing different aspects of human folly, such as a drunkard, a gambler, and a fool playing the lute. The background is a rich, detailed cityscape with a city under construction and a harbor scene, illustrating the ephemeral nature of human endeavors. Mehr sehen