Original design for the poster ‘Sífilis’ Ramon Casas i Carbo (1866-1932)

The composition presents a female figure in profile, positioned against a muted grey-green backdrop. The womans hair is styled with voluminous curls and adorned with a small floral accent. Her expression conveys a sense of melancholy or introspection; the gaze directed downwards towards an object held delicately in her hand – a single, pale flower.
The artist has draped the figure in a loosely arranged shawl or fabric that cascades around her shoulders and torso. The textile displays a pattern of swirling lines and forms rendered in shades of pink and yellow-green, creating a visual dynamism that contrasts with the stillness of the woman’s pose. A serpentine form emerges from beneath the drape, coiling around her arm and partially obscuring the lower portion of the composition.
The color palette is restrained but evocative. The muted tones of the background emphasize the figures pale complexion and the vibrancy of the textile. The flower itself serves as a focal point, its fragility juxtaposed with the implied weight of the woman’s sorrowful demeanor and the unsettling presence of the serpentine form.
Subtextually, the image appears to explore themes of vulnerability, beauty, and perhaps hidden danger or corruption. The flower could symbolize innocence or fleeting pleasure, while the serpent traditionally represents temptation, deceit, or disease. The womans posture and expression suggest a burden carried in silence, hinting at an internal struggle or a secret affliction. The overall effect is one of quiet drama and psychological complexity, suggesting a narrative that extends beyond what is immediately visible on the surface.