Zittend meisje, in profiel naar rechts 1854 - 1910

Willem Maris rendered this sketch of a seated girl in pencil. Note the flowers she delicately holds; they are not mere decoration but potent symbols, echoing the 'Flora' motif found in Renaissance art. The act of gathering or holding flowers dates back to ancient Greece, where it symbolized not only beauty and spring, but also ephemeral existence. Consider Botticelli’s ‘Primavera,’ where Flora scatters blossoms, signifying renewal and the cyclical nature of life. Our subconscious recognizes this gesture, linking it to broader themes of youth, transience, and the passage of time. Yet, in Maris’s depiction, the girl’s downcast gaze introduces a somber note. The flowers become a memento mori, a reminder of life’s fleeting beauty. This emotional complexity reflects how cultural memory shapes our interpretation, allowing symbols to evolve and acquire deeply personal meanings across generations.