The idea to build this Vanitas (over 50 inches or 130 centimeters high) was born in the French Musee du Louvre, where Oudhout encountered some 16th and 17th century Vanitas-paintings, done by Flemish and Dutch master painters...
The patin of those paintings can also be found on the sometimes centuries old planks in Kraaijevelds storage sheds: in fact, this skull is in part done with flooring of an old Utrecht mansion and a farm in s´Graveland...
These worn planks, with water stains and sometimes infested with insects (now gone) make interesting skulls.
The skull on which this piece is based upon, has been owned by Kraaijeveld (a skull collector) himself for years. He bought it when still a student. It is thought the skull belonged to a 17th century nun. She was dug up in the city of Leiden on a spot where there used to be a nunnery/cloister.
This piece was used as the trademark of the 2010 exhibition 'Doodgewoon' in the Museum Hilversum.
private collection Hilversum
