Flora Rankin, Irene MacDonald, and Mary Josephine MacDonald at Elm Lodge 1863

Captured by Lewis Carroll, this photograph presents Flora Rankin, Irene MacDonald, and Mary Josephine MacDonald in a tableau of Victorian girlhood. The garland of flowers adorning the central figure evokes ancient traditions, reminiscent of classical depictions of Flora, the Roman goddess of spring and fertility. Consider Botticelli’s "Primavera," where Flora scatters blossoms, a symbol of renewal and the cyclical nature of life. Here, the flowers intertwine with notions of innocence, beauty, and the transient nature of youth, a theme prevalent in Pre-Raphaelite art. The thoughtful gaze of the girls, combined with the floral motifs, hints at an underlying complexity. This composition taps into our collective memory, stirring subconscious recognition of archetypes. The garland, a recurring motif throughout art history, has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings, endlessly engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level.