Iris ×germanica eller Iris ×sambucina (have-iris eller hylde-iris); Iris variegata (broget iris) 1635 - 1664

Curator: Ah, this piece always feels like stepping into a secret garden. Editor: Indeed, a very orderly one, though! These irises seem rather self-contained and proper. Curator: Perhaps, but there's still a wildness hinted at, wouldn’t you say? The work, Iris ×germanica eller Iris ×sambucina (have-iris eller hylde-iris); Iris variegata (broget iris), sometimes shortened to just Iris, comes to us from the studio of Hans Simon Holtzbecker. It’s likely from between 1635 and 1664. He renders them so meticulously in watercolour, gouache, and drawing on paper. Editor: You can tell from the crisp outlines that the artist was serious about their practice. I’m noticing a strong association here with images from illuminated manuscripts: flowers representing inner growth or heraldic symbols referencing specific qualities in the bearer, say, courage, wisdom or faith. But with botanical drawings, it might suggest something else…perhaps healing? Curator: Oh, I love that—a symbol not just for who we are, but for who we hope to become! And yes, irises have long held symbolic weight. We're looking at the two variants depicted almost scientifically, yet with clear affection. Holtzbecker clearly delighted in capturing their likeness. Notice how he varies the weight of the lines, lending the petals such delicate textures, the slight droop adding a sense of melancholy. Editor: There is a certain pathos, isn't there? A reminder of ephemerality. I feel drawn to the darker hues around the "falls" or the beard. Almost jewel-like, as if the flower contains secrets deep inside the plant’s subconscious. Curator: It is like a portal, or a velvet curtain… The artist seems to want to uncover the mystery contained within natural specimens. And there is something quietly bold in showcasing their imperfect forms, not idealizing them, but showing their wrinkles and fading color. I am moved by this attention to the unique spirit, to these specimens and I find that I also seek ways to observe life. Editor: A spirit captured, I agree. Holtzbecker's irises are more than mere illustrations; they hold a memory. I will keep that with me for a bit. Curator: A worthy companion, I should say.