Although some people would not consider themselves 'artists,' we all love beautiful things - and we share our love for each other through beautiful things - be that a painting, a sunset, or a warm bowl of soup.
Throughout history and through different cultures, there have been many symbols to show affection through art. Many of them have been long-standing. Even today, you can find those symbols throughout our art gallery.
Apples: In Ancient Greece, they were a symbol of courtship
The Claddagh Ring: This ring, originating from an old celtic story, symbolizes loyalty, friendship, and love.
Jasmine: In the Hindu religion, this is a powerful symbol of love, which is often featured with many goddesses.
Kokopelli: Originating as a symbol of a Hopi god and a symbol of fertility, this figure has been commodified into a flute player of love and a symbol of the Southwest, consistently transforming within the last few hundred years, as written by Shannon Burke in her Thesis on this figure, that has been commercialized and colonialized within the United States.
Maple Leaf: A Symbol of Love within China and Japan. This is especcially featured within the Edo period.
Moon and Star | Osram ne nsoromma: This is an Adinkra symbol that represents love, faithfulness, and harmony for the Akan peoples of West Africa.
Rose: Originating as an ancient Chinese medicine, this plant was cultivated in parallel with the start of tea cultivation, to regulate life energy. Confucius wrote about roses in the Imperial Gardens in 500 BC. They were so widely cultivated during the Han Dynasty (141-87BC) that for a moment it threatened food supplies. The rose appears in ancient religious books and in Greek Mythology. Roses also became a staple in Persian culture. There were paintings of this plant in Egyptian tombs. Cleopatra seduced Mark Antony with them.
Heart: The classic symbol of the heart most likely originated in the middle ages, allegedly first seen in "Le Roman de la Poire."
Valentine's Day: Some historians ay that this day was to commemorate St. Valentine's death or burial. However, others say St. Valentine's Day was set to Christianize the pagan celebration of Lupercalia, which celebrated fertility as well as Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. Valentine greetings go far back as the Middle ages, but written valentines started in the 1400s.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, puzzle purses became popular in western culture, undoing the puzzle purse made of paper revealed hidden messages in writing.
In the 1800s, the language of flowers skyrocketed around the Victorian era, concealing messages within bouquets for loved ones.
Although this day became popular for romantic love, many cultures began using this day to honor platonic and familial love as well, especially as the season of Winter was coming to an end. After all, our communities help us get through the cold seasons.
In the 1840's Esther A. Howland began selling the first mass-produced Valentines in the United States. Today, it is the second largest day for writing cards.
Where do you see symbols of love within our art gallery? There is much meaning in the artwork we create, and there is a history of what brought us to where we are today.
Sincerely,
Maddie Jones, Assistant Art Gallery Manager
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