Hangwerk met fruit, een zonnebloem en een kan en een koningin van de nacht before 1897

This still life features a sunflower, fruit, a night-blooming cereus, and other symbolic elements, immortalized through an anonymous lens. Here, the sunflower, historically associated with adoration and longevity, finds itself juxtaposed with a night-blooming cereus. This flower, which blooms for only a single night, often symbolizes ephemerality and beauty. One recalls the ancient Greek myth of Clytie, whose unrequited love for Helios, the sun god, transformed her into a sunflower, forever facing the sun. The night-blooming cereus, in contrast, carries echoes of vanitas traditions, reminding us of the fleeting nature of existence. Consider how these motifs resurface through art history, from the sunflowers of Van Gogh expressing intense emotion, to the memento mori skulls in Dutch Golden Age paintings. Each symbol weaves a thread through time, evoking deep, subconscious connections across cultures.