The Life of Man, Jan Steen (1665) The curtain has been lifted so that we have a clear view of a giggle room, where young and old enjoy themselves eating, drinking, playing and flirting. But Jan Steen was not just about merry conviviality. His message is hidden in a small detail near the window. There, on the dark ceiling, lies a little boy blowing bubbles, with a skull beside him. Life is beautiful, but eventually bursts like a soap bubble.
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