Young Woman with a Pink 1485 - 1490

Painted by Hans Memling, this panel portrays a young woman holding a pink flower. The flower, often called a 'pink,' stands out as a symbol of betrothal, capturing the essence of love and commitment that has roots in classical antiquity with Venus, the goddess of love, often depicted with floral crowns. The motif of offering flowers, of course, appears throughout history. Take, for example, Botticelli's 'Primavera,' where Flora scatters blossoms, representing fertility and renewal, connecting to subconscious desires. The gesture of holding a flower close, prevalent in Memling's era, is a display of virtue, linking back to ancient myths of chastity. It's remarkable how the act of holding a flower, laden with such emotional and cultural weight, has persisted. Each brushstroke echoes the deep, subconscious layers of shared human experience. This symbol of the pink transcends time, connecting this young woman to a rich tapestry of love, virtue, and the cyclical nature of life itself.