Oenothera biennis (toårig natlys); Hypericum hircinum (stinkende perikon); Oenothera rubricaulis (rødfrugtet natlys) 1649 - 1659

Editor: So, here we have *Oenothera biennis, Hypericum hircinum,* and *Oenothera rubricaulis*, three botanical studies done between 1649 and 1659 by Hans Simon Holtzbecker, using watercolor, gouache and drawing. I find the rendering really delicate. How do you see these works fitting into the artistic conventions of the time, and perhaps, revealing the artist’s touch? Curator: Delicate is certainly one word. I’m caught by their yearning for precision – an almost scientific devotion to each leaf, each petal. Holtzbecker's is speaking to me in whispers, murmuring secrets of the botanical world, each stroke infused with what feels like an impossible gentleness. These weren’t just flowers; they were Holtzbecker's companions, almost. Did botanical art of this period always strive for such a sensitive interpretation, or is there a unique voice here? Editor: I guess what I am wondering is, why devote so much energy to illustrating them with such accuracy? What purpose did this serve at the time? Curator: These artworks often served as scientific records – think of them as early encyclopedias in visual form. The printing press helped disseminate this information, but these unique watercolours feel particularly precious. Imagine each delicate brushstroke as a moment of contemplation. The artist pauses, observes, then recreates a living thing using nothing but pigment and water! And it makes me wonder: what can such patient looking teach us today? Editor: That’s a good point. Seeing this level of commitment to observation is inspiring. Curator: It’s more than just seeing, isn’t it? It’s about truly *being* with these plants. Something about how still it has been sitting there over the centuries gives me…well, a very welcome quiet feeling. It's kind of marvelous!