Portret van A.M. Nije 1861 - 1874

This is a photograph of A.M. Nije, captured by Albert Greiner in the late 19th century. Here, the rose sculpted on the chair back evokes a complex tale of symbolism. The rose has long been associated with Venus, the goddess of love, symbolizing beauty, passion, and desire. Yet, paradoxically, it also stands for secrecy and silence, stemming from the Roman practice of hanging roses above council chambers, a signal that all discussions held "sub rosa," under the rose, were to remain confidential. In Christian iconography, the rose became a symbol of the Virgin Mary, the Queen of Heaven, and the epitome of divine love. The presence of the rose in this portrait, then, invites contemplation. Is it a nod to the sitter’s beauty and virtue, or is it a more profound declaration of hidden depths and unspoken narratives? It is precisely this ambiguity that lends the image its enduring power, inviting each viewer to project their own understanding onto its symbolic language.