75V11 Possibly 1973 - 1993

John Divola created this gelatin silver print, a study in contrasts and decay. The floral wallpaper serves as a poignant symbol, reminiscent of domesticity and order, yet it is defaced. Consider the recurring motif of the flower. We find it in ancient Minoan frescoes, symbols of renewal and life, and in the Victorian era, where each bloom had a specific meaning in the language of flowers. Here, though, the blooms are scarred with dripping paint. The repetition of drips echoes the relentless passage of time, eroding beauty, transforming our idealized spaces into sites of ruin. Think of the psychological weight of defacement. Is it a rebellious act against the confines of domesticity? Or a somber reflection on the inevitable decay that awaits all things? This image evokes a powerful emotional response, tapping into our collective anxieties about loss, change, and the impermanence of beauty. The floral image, once associated with life and growth, is now marred, a constant reminder of decay.