POPPY 

Sofia Bonati’s illustration, titled "Poppy," presents a striking portrait set against a decorative floral backdrop. The image evokes a sense of historical romanticism. The poppy, a symbol with layered meanings, from remembrance to beauty and oblivion, intertwines with the figure, questioning our relationship with nature. The stylized rendering and flattened perspective recall late 19th century Aestheticism, a movement that valued beauty above all else. This self-conscious turn away from industrial society and towards the decorative and the handmade influenced many contemporary artists. Bonati's knowing revival of these styles, and incorporation of digital techniques, makes us ask: can we really return to the past? And what would that mean? To understand this illustration more fully, a social history approach demands attention to shifts in artistic institutions, art markets and digital trends. These are just some of the research paths that inform the interpretation of art as something contingent on its social and cultural moment.