Roses II 

Małgorzata Serwatka painted "Roses II" using oil on canvas. Floral arrangements are, of course, nothing new in painting. In the 17th century, for example, the Dutch turned floral painting into a booming industry. But what are we to make of a painting of roses by a Polish artist working at the turn of the 21st century? The visual codes deployed here are both traditional and subtly subversive. On the one hand, a painting of white roses, with its connotations of purity and beauty, seems to conform to conservative tastes and expectations. Yet, on the other hand, there is a sense of unease created by the dark background and the wilting leaves, a visual reminder of the transience of beauty. As art historians, our role is to examine these conflicting signals and consider how the artist’s work relates to the institutions of art and the wider social context. Perhaps further research into the artist’s other works or into the Polish art scene at the time would yield more insight into the social role that "Roses II" was intended to play.