Camelia's in Glas 1913

Jan Mankes created this still life, “Camelias in Glas,” capturing a serene moment with oil on canvas. The white camellias, symbols of purity and longevity, dominate against a somber backdrop, their delicate petals rendered with precision. The white flower motif carries echoes of the past. We see it in the ancient Roman association of flowers with funerary rites and the adornment of tombs. Later, in Renaissance painting, a white lily in the hand of the Virgin Mary symbolized her purity and virginity. Here, Mankes presents a pared-down, modern sensibility. The camellias, in their stark whiteness, stand out against the dark void, evoking a sense of melancholic beauty. This juxtaposition resonates deeply, engaging our subconscious, as it stirs universal feelings of introspection and contemplation on the transient nature of life. The symbol has evolved, yet the echoes of its past linger, reminding us of the cyclical dance between life, death, and rebirth.