Follows the sun as it grows, adoration, haughtiness, devotion.
Sunflowers seek the sun. During the course of the day, the large open face of the flower turns toward the sun as if in adoration of the sun god. In fact, the genus 'helianthus' is a reference to the Greek sun god, Helios. The big-petaled flower obviously symbolizes the sun itself, summoning up feelings of warmth and happiness. But that same characteristic of blindly following the sun, can serve to warn us to be cautious of infatuation and foolish passion.
In the world of art, the most famous sunflowers are, of course, those of Dutch artist, Vincent Van Gogh. While waiting for his friend Paul Gaugin to join him in Southern France, Van Gogh began decorating a guest space with sunflower images. His subsequent series of canvas depicting 'sunflowers in a vase' remains a favorite motif for decorators around the world. Because these still life masterpieces include fading flowers along with those in full bloom, Van Gogh's bouquets speak of the brevity of life. The sunflower remains an unofficial symbol of Provence, and of Van Gogh, himself.
Note-Van Gogh's sunflowers might not have been so famous had his productive life not coincided with the invention of a new pigment that provided him with his vibrant chrome yellows.
The sunflower is native to the Americas, the earliest evidence of their domestication having been found in Mexico, circa 2600 B.C. However much they may have been admired for their beauty, they were definitely propagated for food and for their oil. The Inca Empire held the sunflower as an object of sun worship. It's priests were said to have worn golden sunflower disks on their sacramental garments. The sunflower symbol has been found on temples in the Andes mountains. Various indigenous peoples in the Americas set bowls of sunflower seeds on the graves of their dead.
Rose, Lotus Flower, Lily, Cherry Blossom.
Below you will find a gallery of inspirational images that will help you in your quest of creating the perfect Sunflower tattoo.
Also Check out: Daisy, Chrysanthemum, Lily, Cherry Blossom, Jasmine, Lotus Flower, Water Lily, Orchids, Peonies, Sunflowers, Flower & Plant Tattoo Index and Tattoos for Girls.
