Emblem med et hjerte gennemboret af en rose 1609 - 1672

This small, anonymous print from an unknown time shows a heart pierced by a rose, an emblem brimming with symbolism. Consider the cultural associations here. Roses signify love, but thorns suggest pain. The piercing of the heart speaks to the wounds of love, a common theme in art and literature across centuries and cultures. The floating hands add an element of surrealism, perhaps representing the active role of fate or desire in matters of the heart. Without knowing the specific context, it's challenging to pinpoint the exact cultural references. Was this a personal token, a page from a book of emblems, or part of a larger allegorical work? Looking into the history of emblem books and popular iconography of the period might reveal more. How was love understood and portrayed in the society that produced this image? Was it linked to religious ideas, social expectations, or courtly rituals? By exploring these questions, we move beyond the surface of the image and uncover its potential meanings, recognizing that art is always shaped by the social and institutional forces of its time.