La Mode Illustrée, 1864, No. 26: Toilettes de femmes (...) 1864

J. Bonnard created this fashion plate titled "La Mode Illustrée" in 1864. Note the prominence of doves, symbols laden with meaning since antiquity. In ancient times, doves were associated with love and devotion, linked to goddesses such as Aphrodite. See how the young girl tenderly holds one of these birds? It's a gesture that echoes across centuries, harking back to images of divine innocence. Yet, here, the dove appears not in the hands of a goddess or saint, but in a scene of domesticity. Consider how artists like Picasso reinvented the dove in the 20th century as a symbol of peace, a transformation from sacred to secular. This emblem’s persistent presence, shaped by our collective yearning for harmony, engages us on a subconscious level. We recognize in it a reflection of our deepest hopes and desires. Symbols such as the dove are not fixed, but rather continue their journey through time, acquiring new layers of meaning and emotional resonance.