I karnevalstiden, Rom 1864 - 1868

Edvard Sonne captured this scene in Rome with burin and etching, a world teeming with symbolic weight. The woman at the window, with her contemplative gaze and delicate rose, evokes a sense of melancholic longing. The window itself—a frame separating interior from exterior—serves as a powerful metaphor for the liminal space between private reflection and public spectacle, a motif seen across centuries. Think of the medieval Madonna figures, framed by windows as they receive divine news. Or recall the Renaissance portraits where windows served as portals to the wider world. The rose she holds, a symbol of love and beauty, echoes in Roman frescoes and even Egyptian tombs. The rose speaks of both earthly love and divine perfection, a duality that has resonated through time. Perhaps, through the window, we can perceive the collective memory of countless women who have gazed out at the world. Their dreams and hopes are imbued within this seemingly simple scene, revealing art as a powerful force engaging us on a deep, subconscious level.