Loves Me 

Carrie Graber’s painting, titled *Loves Me*, captures a moment laden with symbolism. The most striking motif is the bouquet of flowers clutched in the subject’s hand, reminiscent of the age-old practice of floromancy—divining love through the selection and presentation of blossoms. The gesture of picking petals, often associated with the phrase "Loves me, loves me not," carries echoes of medieval courtship rituals, where young maidens sought to unveil their romantic fate. One might recall Botticelli's *Primavera*, where Flora scatters flowers, embodying renewal and the ephemeral nature of beauty and love. This act transcends time, resurfacing in various cultural expressions, from folk songs to contemporary art. Here, the golden hour light bathes the scene, creating an ethereal atmosphere that heightens the psychological tension between hope and uncertainty. The motif of flowers, once symbols of fertility and divine favor, are here made personal. The psychological weight of expectation, of seeking answers in the natural world, resonates deeply. The symbols are passed down through history, shifting in meaning, yet preserving the core of human emotion.