Under the Rose 1907

Editor: This is "Under the Rose," a 1907 watercolor by Harrison Fisher. It's such an evocative piece – the soft washes and the dreamy look on her face give it a real air of romance. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Well, the rose, of course, has a long history as a symbol of secrecy and confidentiality. "Sub rosa," or "under the rose," meant that something was to be kept secret, going all the way back to Roman mythology. Consider the setting - an intimate portrait of a woman from the Gilded Age. What secrets do you think she might be holding, and how does that inform her expression? Editor: That's fascinating! I hadn’t thought of the rose as a symbol for secrecy. So, the woman in the portrait might be concealing something, which is quite a contrast to the open, romantic feel I initially perceived. Does the style of her clothing, or the specific type of rose in her hat, carry meaning? Curator: Absolutely. The fashions of the Gilded Age emphasized ornamentation and elaborate details. Notice how the black ribbon is obscuring part of the rose; one might read that the beautiful yet mysterious details are being hidden in plain sight. Does this speak to the viewer, or someone else, perhaps someone in her close orbit? The way she presents herself invites a very particular kind of reading, don’t you think? Editor: Definitely. It’s almost as if she’s consciously choosing what to reveal and what to keep hidden. I guess the portrait, and maybe her entire persona, becomes a kind of curated performance. Curator: Precisely. It invites us to think about how identity is constructed and the power of visual symbols in shaping our understanding. Editor: I'll definitely look at portraits differently from now on, considering the narratives hidden beneath the surface. Thanks so much for sharing your insights! Curator: My pleasure. It is always rewarding to unveil layers of meaning within a work, especially those concealed under the rose.