#1: What is a camera obscura, and how is it used?
In 1685, Johann Zahn created camera obscura which helped several artists during this time create their pieces (Camera Obscura History Timeline 1). Camera obscura was a box like device with a hole in it which allowed for light to pass through in order to create a visual on a surface within the box. Further, this allows for colors to become more prominent as well as helps for the piece to come alive due to movement (Camera Obscura History Timeline 1). An example of camera obscura is Jan Vermeer’s piece The Letter, this depicts an elegant woman glaring up at her servant with a facial expression which displays confusion once being presented with a letter (The Love Letter 1). In this scene the light source is coming from an aerial perspective which is common in another piece by Vermeer, Woman Holding a Balance. In each of these piece both share this similarity as well as the a perspective that allows the viewer to have a glimpse into the lives of those depicted (Kleiner 747).
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Typically, the message behind these objects revolve around the idea of mortality as well as the lack of value that goods contain in order to make the viewer think about how life is short (Tate 5). An example of a still life painting is Philippe de Champaigne’s Vanitas, in this piece a flower, skull, and hourglass are place in a row along a table each symbolising doom (Tate 5). The tulips represents a moment of glory due to it wilting away, the hourglass shows the passing of time due to it eventually counting down, and the skulls is the inevitability of death that comes for everyone (Lubbock 5). Overall, the piece is depicting the timeline of a person’s life as well as how short it is and how it should be valued because it is precious (Lubbock