Zonnebloem van opzij 1878 - 1938

Here, in the Rijksmuseum, is a drawing of a sunflower seen from the side, sketched by Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst. This simple image is charged with meaning, reflecting the complex journey of symbols through time. The sunflower, with its face turned to the sun, has long been a symbol of adoration, loyalty, and spiritual seeking. Think of Apollo and Clytie, where the nymph, consumed by unrequited love, transformed into a sunflower, forever gazing at her beloved sun god. But observe how Holst’s sunflower droops, its head heavy, bearing the weight of the ages. It is no longer the symbol of pure adoration, but rather something more melancholic, more knowing. Its evolution echoes the shifts in human emotion and understanding. The sunflower has appeared across different times, and cultures, each era layering its meaning, embedding itself in our collective memory. What transformation will this symbol undergo next?