Portrait of Estelle Musson Degas 1872

Edgar Degas painted this portrait of Estelle Musson Degas, showcasing her arranging flowers, a traditional symbol of domesticity and beauty. Yet, the very act of arranging flowers carries deeper cultural echoes. Consider the ancient Roman custom of the "floricomium," where courtesans adorned themselves with flowers to signify availability and allure. Does Estelle's arranging of flowers subtly allude to themes beyond mere domesticity? Perhaps there's a hidden narrative of societal expectation or personal expression woven into this seemingly simple act. In the language of flowers, each bloom carries a specific meaning, a tradition that stretches from the Victorian era back to ancient mythology. The flowers Estelle arranges, with their colors and forms, might encode a message, a secret dialogue between the artist and the sitter. These symbols, passed down through generations, have a way of resurfacing, transformed but still potent, engaging our subconscious with layers of cultural memory.