Cahier c. 18th century

This drawing, made by Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer, presents a floral study of roses and carnations. The rose, throughout history, has carried a heavy symbolic weight from ancient Greece where it was associated with Aphrodite, to its adoption as a symbol of the Virgin Mary in Christian art. Notice how the rose has mutated over time, taking on diverse meanings—love, secrecy, and even war in the "War of the Roses." Monnoyer's image evokes an entire history of cultural and emotional associations, stirring subconscious connections within us. This carefully arranged bouquet is not merely a collection of flowers, but a mirror reflecting the complex, deeply rooted relationship between humans and nature. The act of arranging flowers carries its own psychological weight, serving as a means to impose order and control over the natural world. The bouquet, in its delicate balance, speaks to the eternal dance between chaos and order, death and rebirth, engaging us on a profound, unspoken level. It is a testament to how symbols evolve, adapt, and continue to resonate, carrying echoes of the past into our present.