Mount for Last Poppies 1897 - 1899

This print by Theodore Roussel features a dark, central void surrounded by decorative motifs. The dominant meander pattern edging the image is not merely ornamentation; it is an echo of ancient labyrinths. This symbol appears across time, from Greek pottery to Roman mosaics, often representing life's winding journey or the search for truth. Think of the myth of Theseus, navigating the labyrinth to confront the Minotaur. Here, the maze encircles the blank space like a protective barrier—or perhaps a trap? Such recurring forms speak to our collective unconscious. The labyrinth, with its disorienting pathways, may touch on primal anxieties, on the uncertainty and confusion inherent in the human experience. It resurfaces throughout history, each time molded by the fears and hopes of a new era.