Silence 1870

Dante Gabriel Rossetti created this work of art called 'Silence,' portraying a woman in a state of quiet contemplation. The symbols present within the artwork offer a window into the Victorian psyche. Note how the woman holds shut a curtain, suggesting a barrier between the interior and exterior worlds. In her other hand, she holds flowers, symbols of life and beauty, yet also of ephemerality. Such a flower motif echoes in Botticelli's 'Primavera,' where Flora scatters blossoms, but here, the flowers seem to carry a sense of stillness and melancholy. Consider the psychological weight of silence. It can be a moment of reflection or a space filled with unspoken feelings. Rossetti captures this tension, inviting us to explore the depths of human emotion and the subtle language of symbols that connect us across centuries.