Life — November 27, 1902 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a memento mori artwork titled "ALL IS VANITY" showing a skull that appears to be composed of two human figures—a woman at her vanity mirror on the left and a man on the right. The skull's eye sockets are formed by the empty spaces where their faces meet or turn away from each other. The piece is a visual pun on the classical "vanity skull" motif. It satirizes human vanity and mortality by literally constructing a death's-head from two people absorbed in personal appearance and self-regard. The woman's elaborate hairstyle forms part of the skull's cranium, reinforcing the commentary on superficial concerns with beauty. The copyright indicates this appeared in Life magazine around 1902, making it an early example of Life's sophisticated visual satire about social follies and human nature.