The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 22, 2025

Young Woman Holding Roses

1897

James Arthur

(American, born Canada, 1855–1912)
America
Gelatin silver print mounted to glass
The Julius L. Greenfield Photography Acquisition Fund 2022.15
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

Roses are a traditional symbol of beauty and its ephemerality.

Description

James Arthur created this photograph as art, a radical concept for a photograph at the time. He indicates that elevated status by signing and dating it like a painting. The young woman cradling the roses—which still have their thorns—calls upon traditional art historical and literary allegories of the transitory nature of beauty and youth.
  • Estate of Robert and Joyce Feinman, Akron, OH
    (Bluebird Liquidators, Fairlawn, OH), sold to Barbara Tannenbaum as agent for The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
    March 7, 2022-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • {{cite web|title=Young Woman Holding Roses|url=false|author=James Arthur|year=1897|access-date=22 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2022.15