Plate 17: Brimstone and Meadow Brown(?) Butterflies, a Dragonfly, and Two Small Insects c. 1575 - 1580

Joris Hoefnagel made this watercolor and gouache on vellum, sometime before his death in 1600. The artist has rendered these insects with extraordinary precision. Note the way he’s carefully distinguished the textures of their wings and exoskeletons, using tiny strokes of the brush. This isn’t just observation, it’s also about a highly developed skill. Hoefnagel was part of a culture of scientific study. This plate comes from a larger series intended to document the natural world. These types of natural studies were possible because of global trade networks. The intense labor of those networks allowed artists to study plants and creatures from all over the world. So, next time you see a delicate, detailed image like this, remember that it's not just about the beauty of nature. It’s also about the social systems that make that observation possible. It challenges the traditional boundary between science and art, labor and leisure.