In the depiction of a lemon with vine leaves on a platter, executed in free-motion embroidery, the traditional Vanitas theme is reinterpreted. The embroidery technique, where stitches move freely and loosely like brushstrokes, adds a painterly quality that enhances the tactility and depth of the work. The texture and expressive potential of the embroidery bring the objects to life: the rough, porous skin of the lemon contrasts with the delicate veins and the loose silhouette of the vine leaves.
Vanitas still lifes serve as reminders of the transience of life and the inevitability of mortality. In this work, the lemon symbolizes the bitterness of existence, while the vine leaves evoke associations with abundance and connection.