Handkerchief Case c. 1938

Sarah F. Williams created this handkerchief case with watercolor, showcasing a vibrant bouquet of flowers. Consider the enduring symbolism of flowers: across centuries, they have been emblems of love, mourning, and the transient nature of life itself. Think of Botticelli's "Primavera," where flowers herald the arrival of spring, or the somber floral arrangements in Dutch still life paintings, memento mori reminding us of mortality. Here, the flowers project a sense of joy, perhaps hinting at the personal, intimate function of a handkerchief case, often associated with memories and tokens of affection. This echoes ancient traditions, like the "floral games" of Roman antiquity, or the language of flowers in Victorian England, where each bloom carried specific emotional messages. The persistence of floral motifs in art reminds us of the deep-seated human desire to find beauty and meaning in the natural world, and to connect with the cyclical rhythms of life and death. It is as though our subconscious recognizes the power of flowers to express what words cannot: a testament to the enduring strength of symbols that traverse time and culture.