Les bulles de savon 

This is Les bulles de savon by Delphin Enjolras. It depicts a woman blowing bubbles, their iridescent surfaces reflecting light. Bubbles, ephemeral and delicate, have long symbolized the transient nature of life and beauty, a motif traceable back to Dutch vanitas paintings of the 17th century. Like the skulls and decaying fruit in those works, the bubbles here evoke a sense of melancholy, reminding us of the fleeting nature of existence. Yet, there's a playful innocence to this scene. In ancient Roman art, depictions of children blowing bubbles conveyed themes of youth, hope, and the simple joys of life. The gesture of blowing bubbles transcends time, reappearing in various contexts. In 18th-century French paintings, it served as a metaphor for frivolity and aristocratic leisure, reflecting the cultural values of the era. Here, the gesture, when paired with the woman’s wistful gaze, engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level. It is a cyclical progression, a dance between life and death, that resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.