Silene latifolia (aften-pragtstjerne); Silene dioica (dag-pragtstjerne) 1649 - 1659

Hans Simon Holtzbecker rendered this image of Silene latifolia and Silene dioica, or white and red campion, respectively, with watercolour and gouache. The presence of these botanicals, carefully depicted with their roots exposed, speaks to a broader cultural fascination. The meticulous detail of the roots reminds me of the alchemical search for the hidden, vital forces in nature. One is reminded of the ‘arbor philosophica’ with its roots reaching deep into the earth, a symbol of the connection between the earthly and the divine. Consider also, the floriography of the 17th century, where flowers were employed to convey secret languages of love, loss, and remembrance. The campion, in its dual form of day and night, might symbolize duality, the balance of opposites—a visual representation of the psychological tension between conscious and unconscious desires. Thus, Holtzbecker’s botanical study transcends mere scientific documentation, resonating with layers of cultural memory. The campion, with its roots, becomes a potent symbol, capturing the eternal cycle of growth, decay, and renewal in a tapestry of human emotion and symbolism.