Menu voor een diner op 22 maart 1885 before 1885

This menu for a dinner on March 22, 1885, presents a cascade of lilies of the valley, intertwined with delicate pink flowers. The lily of the valley, with its bell-shaped blooms, traditionally symbolizes purity, humility, and a return to happiness. But let us consider its deeper echoes. This motif recalls the "Blumenmädchen," the flower maiden of Renaissance art. In Botticelli's "Primavera," Flora scatters blossoms, a gesture of renewal and fertility. Here, the lily of the valley performs a similar role. The flowers are not merely decorative; they speak to a primal desire for rebirth and the cyclical nature of life. The subconscious pull of such imagery is profound. Flowers, in their fleeting beauty, remind us of life's transience, prompting a bittersweet emotional response. The arrangement, cascading downward, may even evoke a sense of melancholy. Yet, within this delicate design, the human spirit finds a persistent yearning for joy, a testament to the enduring power of symbols across time.