Holocaust in Vanitas

Vanitas-style art started back in the 16th/17th century, where artists such as Dutch still life painter Pieter Claesz depicted the riches of the people who hired him, but mixed in symbols of death, darkness, and fading glory. I decided to use this style of painting, and carry it over to photography, incorporating additional textures and elements in post-production. I chose the theme of the 1930s/40s Holocaust, using traditional objects to represent the knowledge, wealth, and growth of the Jewish people before the Holocaust, with opposing pieces such as a rotting apple, dead cicada, a dying flower, and an empty cup to express the tragedy of the events that occurred.