Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costumes Parisiens, 1914, No. 137 : Robe de petite fill (...) 1914

This pochoir print from the Journal des Dames et des Modes, created in Paris in 1914, depicts a domestic scene. Note the stylized floral motifs adorning the wallpaper, the mother's dress, and the daughter’s blue dress. The recurring flower is one of the most ancient symbols found across cultures. From ancient Egypt, where lotus flowers symbolized rebirth, to their presence in classical Roman frescoes, floral motifs carry themes of beauty and transience. In Christian iconography, flowers are symbolic of Mary, the mother of God. Here, on the eve of the Great War, these floral patterns, repeated en masse and detached from any realistic context, suggest a society clinging to idealized visions of beauty and innocence. These motifs, while decorative on the surface, reveal deeper currents of cultural memory and perhaps, a subconscious yearning for a return to a pre-industrial, pastoral idyll. Even as fashion and aesthetics evolve, the cyclical return to floral motifs highlights our persistent need to connect with the natural world, imbuing simple decorative forms with emotional and symbolic weight.