La Belle Jardiniere – May 1896

Eugène Grasset created "La Belle Jardinière - May" as a calendar illustration. The image presents a romanticized view of nature, reflecting the Art Nouveau movement's embrace of decorative beauty. Created in France, likely in the late 19th century, this print embodies a time of significant social and economic change. France was grappling with the effects of industrialization and urbanization. Grasset's image invokes a sense of nostalgia for a simpler, more agrarian past. The figure of the gardener, idealized and elegantly dressed, speaks to a yearning for harmony between humanity and nature, a common theme in Art Nouveau. To fully understand this image, we might consider the socio-economic conditions of the time, researching the history of calendar art and its role in shaping popular taste. We can investigate the cultural meanings attached to gardens and flowers. This image reflects the complex relationship between art, commerce, and social values.