Tulipa gesneriana (have-tulipan) 1649 - 1659

Hans Simon Holtzbecker created this botanical study, "Tulipa gesneriana (have-tulipan)," in the 17th century. It is a time when the Dutch Golden Age witnessed a peculiar phenomenon: Tulip Mania. At first glance, the watercolor presents three tulips, each a unique variety, alongside its bulb. But these weren't mere flowers; they were symbols of status, wealth, and the speculative nature of the market. The intense desire for rare tulip bulbs drove their prices to unprecedented heights, reflecting a society grappling with new forms of economic identity. Holtzbecker's rendering captures more than just the beauty of the blooms. It encapsulates a moment in time where the natural world became intertwined with social ambition and economic fervor. The delicate rendering of each petal and leaf, in its own way, tells a story of human desire.