Tulipa gesneriana (have-tulipan) 1635 - 1664

Hans Simon Holtzbecker made this botanical study of Tulipa gesneriana with watercolour and gouache on paper. The work provides a glimpse into the Dutch "Tulip Mania" of the 17th century, a speculative bubble where the price of tulip bulbs reached exorbitant levels. This image presents two variations of the tulip, meticulously rendered with scientific precision. The intense detail reflects the cultural obsession with these flowers. The social and economic climate of the Netherlands at that time fueled the speculative market, where rare tulips became symbols of wealth and status. Holtzbecker, working within the conventions of botanical illustration, unwittingly captured a moment of collective frenzy. The image’s historical context becomes clearer when we consider sources such as contemporary market reports, merchant correspondence, and satirical pamphlets. The "Tulip Mania" offers a cautionary tale about the intersection of aesthetics, economics, and social psychology, revealing the ways in which cultural values can shape, and be shaped by, the market.