Magasin des Demoiselles, 25 septembre 1853 1853

This is a print by J. Desjardins titled Magasin des Demoiselles, created in Paris in September 1853. Observe the rose held by the central figure, a symbol of beauty and love, reaching far back to antiquity where Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was often depicted adorned with roses. Yet here, its presence is more complex, embodying a certain ambivalence. The rose, traditionally a symbol of love, is presented almost as a mere accessory, a fashionable emblem within the confines of the demure young lady and luxurious surroundings. The motif of the flower, and the rose in particular, is seen across different eras and cultures, from Botticelli's ethereal Venus to the Pre-Raphaelites' depictions of tragic heroines, each time subtly shifting its meaning. Perhaps, subconsciously, its cyclical reappearance mirrors our ever-evolving understanding of beauty and desire, constantly renegotiated through the lens of time and culture.