The painting that we see is “Young Man holding a Skull (Vanitas)” by Frans Hals, made in 1626. You might think that the young man is the most important aspect of this painting, but it is actually the skull that he is holding. Skulls are objects that are also called ‘Vanitas’ (latin for vanity): objects that symbolize the transience of life and the certainty of death. They also emphasize that vanity (pride, egoism) of achievements in your life on earth is bad and will affect your afterlife. People are remembered to, if needed, change their life for the better; to repent their sinful actions. It is not about what you want to achieve in your earthly life: it is all about the after.

The meaning of this painting by Hals can be traced back to the thought of ‘Memento Mori’ (‘remember death’), because a Vanitas painting is also about emphasizing the effect of your mortal life on your afterlife. You have to remember death, remember that death will certainly come and therefore you must prepare yourself for life after death by making ‘good’ decisions and act meaningful. 

A Vanitas painting like this one, fits the attitude ‘My Death’ of Aries very well. It is all about making preparations in your life on earth, in order to ‘win’ the battle during the final Judgement and go to heaven instead of hell.