Subtly scattered across this rich, dark-pink tableau are the little indulgences of downtime: gin, tea, Jane Austen, macaroons, fruit… perhaps more than one quiet night could reveal. Inspired by Dutch still life and Vanitas traditions, this is the third dramatic, larger-than-life piece in my exploration of the genre.

Every element carries meaning: birds hint at the resurrection of the soul, butterflies and dragonflies evoke transformation, snails remind us to slow down, and the skull encourages the enjoyment of life in the present. Amidst florals and insects, this still life celebrates the private, contemplative pleasures that fill a quiet evening—a meditation on transformation, mortality, and the small joys that make life sweet.