Tagetes patula (udspærret fløjlsblomst) 1649 - 1659

Tagetes patula (udspærret fløjlsblomst) is a botanical study made by Hans Simon Holtzbecker. Holtzbecker worked as a court painter during a period of European expansion and colonization. Commissioned during the 17th century, this study reflects the intersection of art, science, and imperial ambition. Botanical illustrations served to document and classify the natural world, often for economic and medicinal purposes. These images played a role in shaping European perceptions and asserting control over newly 'discovered' lands. Holtzbecker's rendering of the Tagetes patula invites contemplation on the relationship between humans and nature, and the complex dynamics of power embedded within scientific exploration. The bright marigolds, here immortalized on paper, remind us of the complex histories intertwined with the natural world.