Twee kisten, opgesteld tijdens de Exposition Rétrospective van 1873 in Tours, Frankrijk 1873

This photograph by Gabriel Blaise captures two ornate chests displayed at the 1873 retrospective in Tours, France. Notice the recurring rosette motifs adorning the larger chest. These circular designs, reminiscent of stylized roses, stretch back through the ages, from ancient Mesopotamian art to the Gothic cathedrals of Europe. Consider how the rosette, initially symbolizing divine royalty and spiritual enlightenment, later transformed into a secular emblem of power and prestige during the Renaissance. It is as if the subconscious memory of humanity imprints these symbols across time, continually reshaping their significance. Here, it serves to subtly elevate the status of the chests, perhaps imbuing them with an aura of historical grandeur. The artist engages our collective unconscious, creating a link to the past. This piece is more than a mere depiction; it's a conduit through which echoes of history resonate, a testament to how symbols retain their evocative power, evolving with each new context.