# Still Life with Books

- By: Jan Davidsz. de Heem (Utrecht, 1606–1683)
- Date: c. 1628 - c. 1629
- Medium: panel, oil paint (paint)
- Classification: painting
- Dimensions: depth 5.5 cm
- Credit line: Gift of the heirs of C. Hoogendijk, The Hague
- Museum: [Rijksmuseum](https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/object/SK-A-2565--e978c8b3f6751a7fa519c63da4c5fb6b)
- Rights: [Public Domain Mark](http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/)
- Picture: https://iiif.micr.io/JpMwf/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Teens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

Grey and brown tints dominate this composition, and a shadow spreads slowly over the wall. The painting alludes to the fleetingness of life. The battered books allude to transience. The music produced by the lute is momentary, a symbol of the brevity of life. A literal reference to death is inscribed on the sheet of paper draped over the table’s edge: ‘finis’ (\[the\] end).