Roses 1885

Pierre-Auguste Renoir painted these roses with oil on canvas, their symbolism deeply rooted in centuries of cultural expression. The rose, from ancient Greece to the Renaissance, has embodied love, beauty, and even secrecy. Look closely, and you might recall Botticelli's "Birth of Venus," where roses fall around the goddess, emblems of her divine sensuality. Yet, the rose is not merely about romantic love. In religious contexts, the rose symbolizes the Virgin Mary, a "rose without thorns," representing purity and divine love. Consider how this symbol has evolved: from the passionate declarations in Shakespeare's sonnets to its use in heraldry and secret societies. The rose engages our collective memory, stirring emotions tied to love, loss, and the ephemeral nature of beauty. It's a testament to how symbols persist, morph, and continue to engage us on a subconscious level.