960px-John_William_Waterhouse_-_The_Soul_of_the_Rose,_1903.jpg
960px-John_William_Waterhouse_-_The_Soul_of_the_Rose,_1903.jpg

Volume II: On Affection

$12.00 every month

This second entry in the archive turns toward affection, not as spectacle, but as presence. On Affection reflects the quiet moments where feeling takes root: the pause before a word is spoken, the closeness of breath, the way attention itself becomes an offering.

To accompany this month’s letter, Winter Rose was chosen as its scent. Soft and enveloping, it opens with the familiar bloom of rose touched by cool air, then settles into something deeper and more contemplative. It is the fragrance of love remembered rather than declared; of petals pressed between pages, of warmth carried through winter.

Included is a reproduction of John William Waterhouse’s The Soul of the Rose, a work that lingers in intimacy rather than movement. The figure leans toward the flower not to claim it, but to breathe it in; a meditation on affection as closeness, care, and quiet devotion. Here, love is not grand or fleeting, but patient and enduring, felt most deeply in stillness.

  • Contents: 1 scented letter from The Archivist, 1 archival 5x7 art print — The Soul of the Rose (with art history on reverse), vellum overlay, ribbon and wax seal, and a collector’s lined envelope.
    All elements are curated to embody the month’s theme and preserve the quiet ritual of correspondence.

  • Catalogue Reference: February 2026 — Volume II: On Affection

  • From the Collection of: The Archivist

This second entry in the archive turns toward affection, not as spectacle, but as presence. On Affection reflects the quiet moments where feeling takes root: the pause before a word is spoken, the closeness of breath, the way attention itself becomes an offering.

To accompany this month’s letter, Winter Rose was chosen as its scent. Soft and enveloping, it opens with the familiar bloom of rose touched by cool air, then settles into something deeper and more contemplative. It is the fragrance of love remembered rather than declared; of petals pressed between pages, of warmth carried through winter.

Included is a reproduction of John William Waterhouse’s The Soul of the Rose, a work that lingers in intimacy rather than movement. The figure leans toward the flower not to claim it, but to breathe it in; a meditation on affection as closeness, care, and quiet devotion. Here, love is not grand or fleeting, but patient and enduring, felt most deeply in stillness.

  • Contents: 1 scented letter from The Archivist, 1 archival 5x7 art print — The Soul of the Rose (with art history on reverse), vellum overlay, ribbon and wax seal, and a collector’s lined envelope.
    All elements are curated to embody the month’s theme and preserve the quiet ritual of correspondence.

  • Catalogue Reference: February 2026 — Volume II: On Affection

  • From the Collection of: The Archivist

Subscription Notice:
Enrollment in The Archivist is a monthly subscription that continues on an ongoing basis. The renewal process is automatic each month. Should you wish to pause or end your correspondence, please cancel your subscription prior to the next billing cycle, which is the 1st of the month.

Disclaimer:

All Archives are sent by ordinary post, without tracking, just as letters once traveled in centuries past.
All featured artworks are sourced from the public domain and reproduced courtesy of museum archives and open-access collections. Each image is used respectfully to honor its historical and artistic legacy.