A Favourite Custom 1909

Lawrence Alma-Tadema painted "A Favourite Custom," capturing a scene of women in a Roman bath, a space of social ritual and cleansing. The laurel wreath worn by one of the bathers is a powerful symbol here. We see this emblem of honor and victory dating back to Apollo in ancient Greece and Rome. Yet, look closer, and you'll see a transformation. In Renaissance paintings, laurel wreaths often crown poets and scholars, signifying intellectual achievement, and here, the motif is used to glorify feminine beauty and leisurely indulgence. It’s a subtle shift, but revealing. This imagery evokes a psychoanalytic understanding of cultural memory, where symbols are transmitted and adapted through generations, subconsciously influencing artistic expression. It's a fascinating evolution, as the wreath adorns the head of a bather, reminding us of how symbols constantly morph, carrying echoes of past meanings into the present.