Vanitas is a plural Latin noun used in art and philosophy to denote the transience of earthly life and the futility of pleasure. In sculpture, painting, and literature it often accompanies memento mori themes, reminding viewers of mortality. The term appears in art history discourse and scholarly discussion, sometimes extended to describe a genre of still-life vanitas works. It is pronounced with a poised, classical stress pattern and a soft, open final syllable.
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