The purpose of this study is to examine the origins of the motif of death and brutality presented in the works of Caravaggio, an italian painter who opened the Baroque periods in the history of Art. The objects of analysis in the study are a picture of still life, 5 religious pictures, and 4 self-portraits selected from his works. In addition, the analytical frame is analysis of theme and symbolic meanings in his works. The result of findings in the study is that: first, in the painting of still life the motif of death shows a symbolic meaning, vanitas, the nihility of everyday life through a fruit basket; second, in the religious works the motif of death presents author's trauma by showing brutality and violence and by expressing profanely death of saints; and finally, in the self-portratis the motif of death reveals his psychological trauma and a mental conflict expressing himself as a victim. In light of the result of the findings, this study concludes that the origin of the motif of death in his works came from his childhood trauma. The study, therefore, shows how a personal mental state affects his paintings.