[Small Bouquets] 1659 - 1699

Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer’s print presents us with a seemingly simple, yet richly symbolic bouquet. Lilies, symbols of purity and resurrection, intertwine with lilies of the valley that represent humility and the return of happiness. Consider the lily, an ancient symbol of royalty and divine favor, as seen in frescoes of Minoan Crete, where it denoted power and elegance. Yet, as Christianity spread, the lily became deeply associated with the Virgin Mary, embodying purity and divine motherhood. Similarly, the modest lily of the valley, often found in medieval tapestries, was linked to the tears of the Virgin Mary. These floral emblems persist in our collective memory, evolving in meaning, yet retaining their emotional power. The bouquet, therefore, is not merely a decorative arrangement but a complex tapestry of cultural and personal memories. These symbols touch something deep within us, a shared subconscious recognition of life, death, and renewal. As these symbols evolve through time, they echo through the ages, ever-changing, yet eternally resonant.