In Vanitas No. 7 (Tarsier), Marie Louise Elshout brings classical vanitas symbolism into dialogue with the present day threat to natural habitats. At the centre sits a pale figure portrayed in a rigidly frontal pose, her voluminous dark gown almost merging with the black pictorial space. The small skull pendant on her chest serves as an unmistakable Memento mori. It refers to the finitude of all life and to the transience of beauty, power and physical existence.
Beneath this symbol, the figure holds a tarsier protectively in her hands. The nocturnal animal, with its exceptionally large eyes, forms the emotional centre of the painting. Its alert, almost human gaze breaks through the distance between the image and the viewer. The tarsier thus appears not merely as an attribute, but as a silent counterpart.
Tarsiers are found exclusively in the island regions of Southeast Asia and live primarily in densely vegetated tropical habitats. Their conservation status varies between species, with some classified as endangered or critically endangered. Documented threats include the loss and fragmentation of their habitats through agriculture and deforestation, as well as capture for the wildlife trade.
In Elshout’s painting, the tarsier therefore represents more than a single animal. It stands for species whose future has become uncertain as a consequence of human activity. The two slender, almost leafless plants extend this interpretation to the vulnerability of entire habitats. The figure’s greenish shimmering hair evokes moss, plant fibres and trailing vines, making the boundaries between the human figure and the botanical world appear permeable.
Through the tarsier, Elshout extends the classical vanitas theme beyond human existence. The painting asks not only what remains of an individual life, but also which animals, forests and memories of an intact natural world we will leave to future generations. Ultimately, the direction of the gaze seems to be reversed: we are not only looking at the animal; the animal also appears to be looking back at us. Its possible disappearance thus becomes a question of human responsibility.