Our Souls 1892 - 1899

This is “Our Souls,” a watercolor and pencil work on paper by Maurice Denis. The bowed head of the woman is the dominant image, conveying a mood of introspection and melancholy. The motif of the bowed head appears throughout art history, from depictions of mourning figures in ancient Greek art to the Christian iconography of the Virgin Mary in mourning. This simple gesture transcends time, embodying universal feelings of sorrow, grief, and contemplation. In medieval art, the bowed head often signified humility, repentance, or reverence. In contemporary art, the gesture is used to convey psychological depth, suggesting the burden of thoughts and emotions. The emotional power lies in its ability to engage viewers on a subconscious level, tapping into collective memories and primal human experiences. Thus the bowed head is a poignant reminder of the cyclical progression of symbols—how they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts, carrying with them layers of cultural and emotional significance.