Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette is an early work of Vincent. At a time when Van Gogh was in poor health that painting is considered a vanitas* or memento mori*.
So whats "skull" meanings to you?
Firstly, "skull" is my nickname in my family. My mom still calls me like that since i was kid. So "skull" is related to me.
Secondly, skull is something that covering mind, in some way its border for mind. Mind has no limit right? (about thinking, progressing, dreaming etc.). Skull is hard to break but its also breakable when it comes to mind. Strong desire can pass through it, so it makes it breakable/flexible. But non-limited mind is sometimes run to you to be lunatic. So in that part skull has borders to you to stop you to not being lunatic. Skull is a cover of our mind, its shaping it. Something like it. Its hard to explain it actually. I hope you get the point what i meant.
Thirdly, skull is part of anatomy. So its part of us.
Fourthly,and the last, skull is a sign of death and using as a sign in many ways you know that from movies, paintings, commercial..
So in that painting we remind that death is for all of us. We're living thing yes. As for many things we also have end too. As a memento mori, dont forget that. In that paintings it used for that by Vincent indeed. But it doesnt make me feel dark actually. Sometimes when you think about death you feel dark but its not like that. It reminds you death yes, but it has message to you: "remember that you will die, so live like never regret"
So again, what's that painting and "skull" meaning to you?
Tell me your opinion.
*vanitas: Symbolic work of art showing the transience of life, the futility of pleasure, and the certainty of death, often contrasting symbols of wealth and symbols of ephemerality and death.
*memento mori: meaning is "remember (that) you will die" in Latin.