Autumn Scattering Leaves 1895 - 1905

John La Farge created this watercolor painting, “Autumn Scattering Leaves,” showing a winged female figure in an autumnal setting. The leaves, symbols of transient beauty and the passage of time, flutter around her. This motif of scattering appears throughout art history. Consider Botticelli’s “Primavera,” where Flora scatters flowers, a symbol of spring and renewal. Here, La Farge presents autumn, the season of decline. Yet, both share a common thread: the act of scattering, the movement of life, and the cycle of nature. The figure's wings, reminiscent of ancient depictions of Psyche, add another layer. Psyche represents the soul, and her transformation into a butterfly symbolizes immortality and rebirth. This image taps into our collective memory, resonating with subconscious desires for renewal. The melancholic beauty of falling leaves evokes a bittersweet emotional response, acknowledging mortality while hinting at the promise of spring. This cyclical dance of death and rebirth is a constant in art. The symbolism used in this watercolor is not linear. It resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, always engaging viewers in a dialogue with the past.