Sculptuur van een vrouwelijke engel door Leopold Borbone before 1859

This is a photograph of a sculpture of a female angel by Leopold Borbone, captured by Grillet jeune. The angel, wings unfurled behind her, sits in quiet contemplation, holding a bouquet of flowers. The image is rich with Christian symbolism; angels, messengers of God, embody purity, guidance, and intervention. We see iterations of winged figures across cultures, from ancient Assyrian lamassu to Greek Nike, each carrying meanings of divine protection and victory. The flowers she holds, though innocent, echo a long lineage of floral offerings, present in ancient Greek funerary rites, symbolizing remembrance, rebirth and the ephemeral nature of life. This act of holding, of cradling life in her hands, speaks to a primal human desire for protection and continuity. The sculpture invites us to confront the cyclical nature of life, death, and renewal, echoing in our collective memory.