The poppy flower has always had a multifaceted role in Western art. With
its delicate petals and intense colours, it was more than just a decorative
motif. Its presence in works of art and literature, mostly in poetry, carried a
deep symbolic meaning. The poppy symbolizes dreams or sleep, death and
transience, as well as fertility and regeneration. Since the Renaissance, the
poppy has been present in painting both in botanical studies and in vanitas
compositions, with its meaning adapting to a specific cultural context.
Poppies have also found their place in contemporary Slovenian
literature, for example, in the story of the same name in the book Bližina na recept by Helena Šuklje. The
writer was inspired by Matej Sternen’s painting, a highlight of the exhibition
also featuring still life paintings of poppies from the collection of the
National Gallery of Slovenia.
In addition to the lesser-known Sternen work from a private collection,
the Revelations will be enriched by the writer's presentation of the story.
3
September – 2 December 2026
National
Gallery of Slovenia
Prešernova
24
1000
Ljubljana