Roses 

Henri Fantin-Latour, a 19th-century French painter, gives us "Roses" in his signature realist style. During a time of rapid social change in France, Fantin-Latour devoted himself to capturing the subtle beauty of still life. His paintings of flowers, like this arrangement of roses, are not simply pretty pictures, they reflect a deeper connection to the ephemeral nature of life. Roses, often associated with femininity and beauty, become a vehicle to explore themes of fragility and the passage of time. Note how the artist plays with light and shadow, capturing the delicate textures and colors of each petal. Fantin-Latour wrote that ‘one must render nature.’ The work stands in contrast to the grand narratives and social commentaries of his contemporaries. It is a quiet, intimate portrayal of the natural world. This painting reminds us that beauty can be found in the simplest of things and prompts us to reflect on our own mortality and the transient nature of existence.