Still Life with Roses and Fan 1925

Samuel Peploe’s "Still Life with Roses and Fan" is an oil painting depicting the titular objects along with fruit and a cup. Roses, those ever-present symbols of love and beauty, fill the composition with their delicate forms. The fan at the lower left, a subtle nod to fleeting moments and perhaps hidden passions, adds another layer to this still life's narrative. Consider how the rose motif has traversed through time. In ancient Rome, roses were strewn during festivals, while in the Renaissance, they adorned portraits as symbols of Venus. The image of the rose, like a persistent ghost in our collective memory, evokes complex feelings of love, loss, and beauty. Peploe, consciously or not, taps into our collective consciousness. The cup, a shared object of comfort and connection, becomes more than just a cup. These elements engage us on a deeply subconscious level. As we stand here, consider the cyclical dance of symbols throughout art history. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings.