Vrouw leest aan het raam 1879

Felicien Rops created this etching titled "Vrouw leest aan het raam" or "Woman reading at the window." At first glance, one sees a woman absorbed in her reading, however, her subtle placement near the window, along with the presence of a rose, introduces a symbolic layer that invites further examination. The window, often a motif of introspection and transition, suggests the woman's mind is divided between the world within the pages she reads and the world outside. The rose, traditionally a symbol of love and beauty, here takes on a complex meaning, hinting at themes of vanity and ephemeral beauty. Consider the image of a similar figure in Botticelli’s “Venus”, as this motif is also present in other images such as “Ophelia”, revealing a cyclical progression, a theme resonating through time. Here, the rose's beauty is a symbol of its inevitable decay. It becomes a poignant reminder of the transient nature of beauty, and is a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level.