Bloem 1736 - 1775

This drawing by Jan Caspar Philips, from the 18th century, shows a hyacinth. In the language of flowers, popular during this time, the hyacinth symbolized constancy and sincerity, but also pride due to its striking appearance. It is interesting to observe how flowers, like figures in classical painting, carry emotional weight. Think back to ancient Greece, where floral motifs adorned pottery and frescoes, each bloom imbued with symbolic significance. The hyacinth in particular evokes the myth of Hyacinthus, a beautiful youth whose blood was said to have sprung forth the flower upon his tragic death, a theme echoed by Renaissance artists such as Caravaggio, who captured the emotional intensity of such classical tales. This image reminds us that symbols never truly disappear; they transform, resurface, and are continually reinterpreted through the collective memory of generations.