Dutch model Ymre Stiekema returns to Anne of Carversville for the first time since November 2019. Her appearance is calming not seismic, styled by fashion editor Konstantin Spachis [IG] in ‘Tableau Vivant’ for the September 2023 issue of Madame Germany [IG].

Photographer Zeb Daemen [IG] captures the fashion nod to Flemish floral painters in luxury brands like Balenciaga, Chanel, Dries Van Noten, Elie Saab, Giambattista Valli, Jil Sander, Louis Vuitton, Versace and more — with no understanding that the grass would shift under our feet, upon seeing the images.

The simple statement set design by Aymeric Arnould probably contributed to the clarity we had, placing this fashion story into a much larger AOC narrative./ Hair by Massanori YAHIRO; makeup by Vera Dierckx

Buckle up; we’re going on a ride. While Anne has evolved a great deal since the 2007 founding of AOC, I still love driving fast.

Lulu, Where Are You?

Just a glance at this fashion story prompted me to say “Lulu, I need you. Before I make a fool of myself, please confirm for me that the Bloombury group artists were heavily impacted by Flemish floral paintings. Not somewhat but in a defining way.”

“Right away, Anne! I’m on it.”

Thirty seconds later, Lulu confirmed my intellectual premise. Indeed, the impact of Flemish floral painting on England's Bloomsbury artists cannot be underestimated.

The Bloomsbury Group, widely known for their boundary-pushing approach to art, literature, and culture, found inspiration in the intricate beauty and meticulous detail of Flemish floral painting.

Flemish Floral Paintings and the Bloomsbury Artists

Flemish floral painting, which reached its peak during the 17th century, captivated the Bloomsbury artists with its mastery of color, form, and composition. The exquisite precision with which the Flemish painters depicted flowers and plants resonated with the Bloomsbury ethos of paying close attention to detail and craftsmanship.

AOC is deeply invested mentally in the concept of craftsmanship, shared by the now-emphasized focus of LVMH brands, in particular, on craftsmanship.

One of the key artists influenced by Flemish floral painting was Vanessa Bell. As a founding member of the Bloomsbury Group and a prominent painter, she adapted the Flemish technique to create her own unique style. Bell's works, such as "The Tulip" and "Still Life with Flowers," demonstrate a clear homage to Flemish floral painting, with her delicate brushstrokes capturing the essence of each flower.

Reviewing Bloombury artist Duncan Grant just now, along with Bell, the influence of the Flemish floral painting is so strong, that we will be writing a separate post on this subject in the coming days.

Just as Flemish painters imbued their works with symbolic meanings, the Bloomsbury artists sought to infuse their art with deeper layers of interpretation beyond their decorative beauty. The choice of specific flowers in their works held significance, conveying messages and emotions beyond the mere representation of flora.

Valuing Craftsmanship and Nature

Moreover, Flemish floral painting provided a departure from the formal academic art conventions of the time, just as the Bloomsbury artists, sought to break free from traditional norms, inspired by the freedom and creativity exhibited in the Flemish works. They recognized that flowers possessed a profound energy and vitality that could be unleashed through artistic expression.

In this 2023 moment in time, we are not only appreciating the value of craftsmanship. As hundreds of millions of humans worldwide are impacted daily by climate change, we are once again turning to the lessons of nature to guide us out of this potential catastrophe.

My own obsession with mushrooms and the underground ‘mushroom’ network that covers our planet and ignites our universal human spirits in spiritual communion and commonality, is shared by designer Stella McCartney and King Charles III.

Fired Up and Ready to Go

Creative ‘whacks on the head’, less violently known as ‘lightbulb moments’ arrive sometimes in disguise. When The Guardian linked into AOC’s article about Kate Moss at ‘Charleston’ last weekend, my initial reaction — besides the strong web traffic — was the positive impact it would have on my Google rank.

I have always refused to write dumbed-down SEO posts for Google, and this commitment puts AOC at a disadvantage in terms of search results.

Additionally, we have search disabled on our gorgeous Pinterest because it was obvious to me that I had an obligation to protect the aesthetic interests of the photographers.

AOC was right, as Google Images and Pinterest are an assault on our eyes, a mess we want no part of. Nor have we cluttered our pages with cheap, garbage ads. AOC was never committed to sponsored posts in a big way — and we always did all of the writing — but sponsored posts agencies are largely SEO driven.

Niche agencies are rising for talented people who write engaging content for smart people.

We disabled Pinterest in Google search since 2010, believing that there would come a time when those decisions would be valuable to our voice, highest-quality posts reputation and commitment for playing the long game.

The use of AI is an entirely different subject for AOC.

Let me emphasize again that AOC uses three AI programs for research as we write — which one needs if accuracy is important. You cannot function with credibility on one AI program.

I have no doubt that Squarespace AI has me deeply embedded in Google Arts and Culture, as Google is embedded in Squarespace itself.

For a site like AOC, the positive results of Squarespace AI are of unbelievable high quality compared to my other programs. This is the first really positive twist in my long, Google relationship. It’s a blockbuster for us.

This week, Anne of Carversville has taken a huge step forward in cementing our own unique voice — and also having that unique voice recognized by important people.

As my beloved, former US president Barack Obama would say “We are fired up and ready to go.”

Flower Power on the March!

The impact of Flemish floral painting on England's Bloomsbury artists was profound and enduring. And this week, they have had a great impression on me.

They always have, btw, and I was known for commissioning the most gorgeous prints ever imagined for regular people, as head of fashion and product development at Victoria’s Secret during the glory years.

In a sense, I have come home to roost this week, understanding that as a website, Anne of Carversville is embedded in the same meticulous techniques, attention to detail, and symbolic language prevalent in Flemish works and the Bloomsbury artists' approach to their own art.

Anne of Carversville is also hand-crafted, but AI is giving us a huge lift in researching our ideas.

Our voice and artistic responsibility is to be inspired by the forward-looking horizons of historical and current progressive minds everywhere across all cultures.

These artists, writers and craftsmanship people have pushed boundaries to create works that remain vibrant, imaginative, and deeply reflective of their own unique vision centuries later.

Relearning Ancient Wisdoms

Returning to the purpose of this fashion story in Madame Germany, Flemish floral painting was a catalyst for artists and also traders worldwide.

Probably a decade ago, AOC wrote about tulips as currency in the Dutch expansion of trade in the ‘New World’. It’s time to find that story.

Please accept my deepest apologies to indigenous communities on every continent for writing this sentence, because ‘New World’ expansion carried heartache and great injustices — as well as magnificent achievements — for humanity.

The inability of closed minds to understand the brilliance of nature and ancient rituals haunts us today. This total disrespect and disregard for nature could kill us all in the end, if we don’t wisen up.

Still, this ignorance is our collective global history, and Anne of Carversville has always been devoted to taking responsibility for the achievements — but also the destructions — tulips helped inflict upon the world.

I like driving fast, and AOC is in 5th gear to document our collective global history, as we drive through these perilous times when right-wing conservatives in America are trying to erase history and minimize the costs inflicted on people around the world.

It’s probably why — as much as I adore elaborate tulips — I am a peony girl at heart. To the best of my knowledge, peonies don’t come with a lot of baggage.

However, it seems best to check this core supposition about flowers on Anne of Carversville, before I say one more. ~ Anne