Studieblad met drie rozen en een iris 1824 - 1900

Here is Albertus Steenbergen’s watercolor study of three roses and an iris. The rose, a symbol of love and beauty since antiquity, appears here in its early stages. It has been embraced across cultures, from its association with the Virgin Mary in Christian iconography, to its use in secular emblems of passion and romance. Consider the ‘Rosa Mystica,’ or Mystic Rose, a title of the Virgin Mary, which intertwines divine love with earthly beauty. The presence of the iris adds another layer. The iris, named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow, represents a bridge between heaven and earth, carrying messages of hope and renewal. These floral motifs are more than mere botanical studies; they evoke a deep, subconscious connection to nature's cycles and emotional states. Like the constant return of Spring, these symbols reappear, each time carrying the weight of history and the promise of new beginnings.