Still life with potted geraniums 

Alfred Stevens captured these potted geraniums with oil on canvas. The geranium, with its vibrant hues, has long been a symbol of gentility and domestic virtue. This flower speaks of comfort and warmth, often gracing windowsills and gardens across Europe as emblems of familial care. Yet, let us not confine ourselves to this quaint interpretation. The symbolism of flowers—and the geranium in particular—echoes through time and culture. Think back to medieval tapestries, where floral motifs were imbued with layers of meaning. The "language of flowers" became a coded means of communication. Like Botticelli's Primavera, where each blossom whispers secrets of love and fertility, this arrangement of geraniums serves as a silent narrative. The simple act of placing these plants in terracotta pots elevates them. It imbues them with the weight of human intention, inviting us to ponder the deeper connections between nature, culture, and memory.