Fotoreproductie van (vermoedelijk) een prent van Madame du Barry, maîtresse van koning Lodewijk XV van Frankrijk c. 1863 - 1880

This photogravure by Étienne Neurdein captures the likeness of Madame du Barry, mistress to King Louis XV of France. Adorned with roses, both in her hair and on her dress, she embodies the Rococo era's emphasis on beauty and pleasure, yet these symbols carry deeper currents. The rose, often associated with Venus, goddess of love, speaks of passion and beauty but also hints at transience. Consider Botticelli's "Birth of Venus," where roses fall around the newborn goddess, a motif reborn here, yet shadowed. Madame du Barry's roses, while symbols of her allure, echo the fleeting nature of beauty and power, much like the ephemerality of life itself. This representation evokes a sense of melancholy, reminding us of the impermanence of human existence and the cyclical nature of history. It's a potent reminder that even the most exquisite symbols of life and love are destined to fade.