Untitled (three debutantes) 1965

This photograph by Robert Burian captures three debutantes, frozen in time. Each holds a rose, a symbol laden with meaning across centuries. The rose, a motif that blooms in countless artworks, has its roots in ancient Greece, associated with Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. In Christian iconography, the rose transmutes into a symbol of the Virgin Mary, embodying purity and divine love. Yet, thorns are an inextricable part of the rose, they hint at both beauty and pain. Here, the young women hold roses, emblems of their transition, a promise of beauty and blossoming. The rose, clutched in their gloved hands, becomes a poignant representation of fleeting youth. A symbol that forever evolves, mirroring our ever-changing perceptions.