“The Meditative Rose” (1958) by Salvador Dalí, limited reproduction

Dalí frequently drew on ancient mythological themes in his paintings. In Greek mythology, the goddess of love, Aphrodite, was born from sea foam, bearing a white rosebush. The rose only acquired its red color through Aphrodite's adultery with the handsome Adonis. On her way to her dying lover, Aphrodite stepped on rose thorns, staining the white roses red with her blood. Thus, the white rose represents the purity of love, while red roses symbolize desire and passion. But the rose symbolizes not only love but also secrecy. "Sub rosa," meaning "under the rose," was a phrase used in the Middle Ages to describe something said in secret. The rose thus became a symbol of secret societies and mystery—it is no coincidence, then, that the rose hovers over Dalí's world...