Still Life 1860

Konstantin Makovsky painted this still life using oil, and it presents a rich collection of flora. The flowers, arranged with a certain spontaneity, are not merely decorative but speak to deeper traditions. The image's dominant symbols are floral, each carrying its own weight of historical and cultural meanings. Red flowers, often associated with passion and vitality, intertwine with lilies, symbols of purity and resurrection. The composition is reminiscent of vanitas paintings, a genre that meditates on the transience of life. We see echoes of floral motifs in Byzantine mosaics and Renaissance tapestries. Over time, the symbolic language of flowers has evolved, yet their ability to evoke emotions remains unchanged. This arrangement creates a powerful engagement, stirring something primal within us as we confront our own mortality and the ever-turning cycles of life.