Mullein Pink 1680

Curator: What a striking composition! The crimson petals of the Mullein Pink almost vibrate against the neutral background. Editor: This botanical drawing by Herman Saftleven, dating back to the 17th century, captures the plant at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a delicate piece, only about 20 by 16 centimeters. I find it very quaint. Curator: Notice how Saftleven renders the texture? The subtle variations in the application of color and the stippling effect on the leaves generate an exceptional tactile sensation. It draws you in. Editor: Botanical drawings like these were often commissioned by wealthy patrons. They represented not only an interest in the natural world but also the power to collect and classify it. Think of it as an early form of scientific illustration, influenced by colonialism and global trade. Curator: Certainly, but consider the inherent formalism. The strategic placement of the blossoms, their curvature and relation to the stem, is a study of natural geometry. Editor: Indeed. It's a moment of stillness, reflecting a period eager to understand, document, and control nature.