Blue Vase of Flowers. Hyacinth c. 1660

Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer created this watercolor and graphite drawing, Blue Vase of Flowers. Hyacinth, during a time when floral painting was highly celebrated, particularly for its decorative qualities. But let's look closer: the arrangement of the flowers and vase is formal, even stylized, reflecting the rigid social structure of the French court. The flowers themselves, though beautiful, are cut off from their roots, suggesting a sense of artificiality and control. How might this relate to the experience of women during this period, often confined to domestic roles and valued for their beauty and ornamental function? The opulence and fragility of the flowers can trigger feelings of both admiration and melancholy. Monnoyer invites us to contemplate the complex intersections of power, beauty, and ephemerality that defined the era in which it was made.