Ontwerptekening voor een menu met plantaardige decoratie 1851 - 1930

Theo Colenbrander created this menu design with watercolor, featuring a stylized floral motif. The blossom, in the center, is surrounded by a vibrant display of leaves in blue and gold hues. This botanical imagery is more than mere decoration. The symbolic language of flowers is rooted in ancient traditions, dating back to classical times. Each blossom and leaf, each color, carries specific meanings. In ancient Rome, for instance, roses were linked to Venus, goddess of love, while the laurel symbolized victory. Observe how Colenbrander’s design echoes these traditions, yet reinvents them through a modern lens. The design pulses with a life force that engages our subconscious, reminding us of nature's enduring power. This botanical motif appears time and again throughout history, always shifting, always adapting. Like a restless spirit, it resurfaces in new forms, carrying echoes of the past into the present.