{"product_id":"nosce-te-ipsum-woman-with-mirror-fool-skull-alexander-voet-jordaens-vanitas-art-print","title":"Nosce Te Ipsum Woman with Mirror Fool \u0026 Skull Alexander Voet Jordaens Vanitas Art Print","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKnow Thyself.\u003c\/strong\u003e Beneath this ancient philosophical command, a richly adorned young woman gazes into a mirror, seemingly indifferent to the warning unfolding beside her. A grinning fool holds the mirror while an older man presents a human skull, confronting her with the inevitable fate of youth and beauty. Engraved by \u003cstrong\u003eAlexander Voet II\u003c\/strong\u003e after a painting by \u003cstrong\u003eJacques Jordaens (1593–1678)\u003c\/strong\u003e, this dramatic Flemish Baroque composition explores vanity, self-deception, and the uncomfortable truth concealed behind outward appearances.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe engraving depicts an elegantly dressed woman seated before a mirror held by a man wearing a fool's cap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdorned with pearl necklaces and bracelets, she concentrates on her reflection while an older, bearded man gestures toward a human skull, urging her to recognize the temporary nature of physical beauty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fool's amused expression contrasts with the older man's serious warning, creating a theatrical encounter between vanity, folly, and wisdom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbove the figures appears the Latin inscription \u003cem\u003eNOSCE TE IPSVM\u003c\/em\u003e — \"Know Thyself.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdditional Latin verses beneath the composition reinforce its moral message.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOriginal Latin inscription\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e\u003cem class=\"zhvwWe\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-complete=\"true\"\u003eSTVLTA, quid ad speculum fastus assumis inanes:\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-pl=\"|||[]\" data-complete=\"true\"\u003e\u003cem class=\"zhvwWe\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-complete=\"true\" aria-owns=\"action-menu-parent-container\"\u003eAtque tibi formâ, quae peritura, places?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e\u003cem class=\"zhvwWe\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-complete=\"true\" aria-owns=\"action-menu-parent-container\"\u003e\u003cem class=\"zhvwWe\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-complete=\"true\"\u003eHic cernis quod eris, quodque es. quid credere cessas?\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-pl=\"|||[]\" data-complete=\"true\"\u003eQuâ loquor, haec forsan iam dabit hora fidem.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEnglish translation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"rQesXe MPyX\"\u003e\"Foolish girl, why do you take up empty vanity at the mirror,\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-pl=\"|||[]\" data-complete=\"true\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"rQesXe MPyX\"\u003eAnd find pleasure in a beauty that is destined to perish?\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan class=\"rQesXe MPyX\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"rQesXe MPyX\"\u003e\"Here you see what you will be, and what you are. Why do you hesitate to believe it?\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-sfc-root=\"c\" data-sfc-pl=\"|||[]\" data-complete=\"true\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"rQesXe MPyX\"\u003ePerhaps this very hour will prove the truth of what I speak.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRichly detailed clothing, expressive faces, elaborate jewelry, and dramatic contrasts of light and shadow reflect the visual language of Flemish Baroque art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition incorporates several traditional elements of \u003cem\u003eVanitas\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eMemento Mori\u003c\/em\u003e imagery:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYoung woman:\u003c\/strong\u003e Youth, beauty, and the temptation of excessive concern with outward appearance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMirror:\u003c\/strong\u003e Vanity, self-deception, and the fleeting nature of physical beauty.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePearl necklaces and bracelets:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wealth, luxury, and worldly possessions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFool wearing a jester's cap:\u003c\/strong\u003e Human folly and the deceptive appeal of superficial appearances.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOlder man:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wisdom, experience, and awareness of life's impermanence.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHuman skull:\u003c\/strong\u003e The inevitability of death and the ultimate fate shared by all humanity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNosce Te Ipsum inscription:\u003c\/strong\u003e Latin for \"Know Thyself,\" encouraging self-examination and recognition of human mortality.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTogether, these elements contrast the pursuit of beauty and material pleasures with the wisdom of acknowledging life's temporary nature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCreated between \u003cstrong\u003e1661 and 1695\u003c\/strong\u003e, this engraving is the work of \u003cstrong\u003eAlexander Voet II\u003c\/strong\u003e, after a painting by Flemish Baroque artist \u003cstrong\u003eJacques Jordaens\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJordaens was among the leading painters of seventeenth-century Flanders, celebrated for his expressive figures, lively compositions, and interpretations of moral and allegorical subjects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Latin phrase \u003cem\u003eNosce Te Ipsum\u003c\/em\u003e — \"Know Thyself\" — derives from the ancient Greek maxim associated with the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. In European moralizing art, it frequently encouraged reflection on human limitations, vanity, and mortality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe engraving belongs to the tradition of \u003cem\u003eVanitas\u003c\/em\u003e, which emphasized the temporary nature of beauty, wealth, pleasure, and earthly achievement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClosely related to \u003cem\u003eMemento Mori\u003c\/em\u003e — Latin for \"Remember that you must die\" — such imagery employed mirrors, skulls, luxurious objects, and allegorical figures to communicate moral lessons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRather than presenting a conventional still life, this artwork transforms the theme of vanity into a theatrical scene in which beauty, foolishness, and wisdom confront one another.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its richly dressed figures, historical jewelry, Latin inscriptions, and dramatic skull symbolism, this reproduction complements libraries, studies, reading rooms, Gothic interiors, and collections devoted to Flemish Baroque art, historical engraving, and philosophical allegory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistorical \u003cem\u003eNosce Te Ipsum\u003c\/em\u003e \/ \u003cem\u003eKnow Thyself\u003c\/em\u003e engraving by Alexander Voet II\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAfter a painting by Jacques Jordaens\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal artwork dated between 1661 and 1695\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eElegant woman admiring herself in a mirror held by a fool wearing a jester's cap\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOlder man presenting a human skull as a warning against vanity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed pearl jewelry, historical clothing, and expressive Baroque figures\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginal Latin title and verses preserved within the composition\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTraditional \u003cem\u003eVanitas\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eMemento Mori\u003c\/em\u003e symbolism exploring mortality, beauty, and self-deception\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReproduced with the intricate engraved details and historical appearance of the original artwork\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGiclée printing on archival paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmooth matte finish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAvailable in multiple sizes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArtwork proportionally scaled to preserve the original composition, with printed margins that may vary by size\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSupplied unframed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSlight production size tolerance of approximately ±1\/16 inch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHandle with clean, dry hands. Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and moisture. Gently remove surface dust with a clean, dry cloth.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Printify","offers":[{"title":"10″ x 8″ (Horizontal) \/ Matte","offer_id":68271659712623,"sku":"27068250939474676528","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"20″ x 16″ (Horizontal) \/ Matte","offer_id":68271659745391,"sku":"32942059503365705331","price":30.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24″ x 18″ (Horizontal) \/ Matte","offer_id":68271659778159,"sku":"12038991396089242130","price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/4113\/4703\/files\/16150196362757418564_2048.jpg?v=1794222605","url":"https:\/\/shadowbornpress.com\/products\/nosce-te-ipsum-woman-with-mirror-fool-skull-alexander-voet-jordaens-vanitas-art-print","provider":"Shadowbornpress","version":"1.0","type":"link"}