Twee reliëfs van een tak met bloemen, waaronder een roos, gebeeldhouwd door Jean Herman before 1880

Charles Claesen created this print of two reliefs of a branch with flowers, including a rose. The absence of metadata, such as the date of creation, can be telling, inviting us to consider the complex nature of historical narratives and the politics of omission. With its delicate floral motifs, the print offers a glimpse into decorative arts which have historically been gendered, associated with femininity and domesticity. Yet, we might also question how these objects, designed to adorn domestic spaces, shaped the identities and experiences of those who lived with them. Consider the ways in which the natural world, represented through these floral reliefs, intersects with cultural ideals of beauty and femininity. Do these works perpetuate traditional representations, or do they offer alternative narratives, perhaps subtly challenging societal norms through their form and function? The artist's choice to immortalize these blooms in relief transforms them, inviting contemplation of the human desire to capture and preserve beauty.