A bouquet of paper roses 1912

Konstantin Alexeevich Korovin created this still life, titled 'A Bouquet of Paper Roses,' using oil on canvas. The rose, prominently displayed, is laden with symbolism. From ancient Greece, where it was associated with Aphrodite, to its later adoption as a symbol of the Virgin Mary, the rose has represented love, beauty, and even transience. Notice, however, that these are paper roses. What does it mean when a symbol of love and beauty is rendered in an artificial, impermanent material? The paper rose evokes a sense of imitation, and the ephemeral nature of beauty. This recalls the vanitas paintings of the Dutch Golden Age, where flowers symbolized the fleeting nature of life. Consider how collective memory shapes our interpretation, how these motifs recur in art across time and space, evolving with each iteration, yet retaining a connection to their origins. Korovin plays with these visual cues to evoke a deeper emotional response.