 His subject matter ranges from fruit still lifes; hunting still lifes, vanitas still lifes and trompe l'oeil paintings.Irrespective of their obvious subject matter, most of van Bochoutt's known still-life paintings carry a vanitas meaning.In other words, the objects in the still lifes can be regarded as references to the transient nature of all earthly goods and pursuits, the dependence on chance of life and its apparent meaninglessness.