Seated woman and child along riverbank; child facing center, woman facing left to child. Woman wearing pink dress, child white dress grey boots.
This charming image of a mother and child enjoying the outdoors may have a deeper meaning. During the 19th century, floriography, or the language of flowers, became a popular way to communicate when emotions could not be openly expressed. Flowers were frequently given as gifts and worn on the clothing and in the hair. The title of the print, Mama’s Rosebud, describes the small child who will “bloom” into womanhood. In the symbolic language of flowers, a rosebud signifies youth and innocence.
