Helianthus annuus (almindelig solsikke) 1649 - 1659

This delicate rendering of a sunflower was made with watercolor on paper, by Hans Simon Holtzbecker in the 17th century. The plant is meticulously observed, with careful attention paid to the graduated tones of its leaves and petals. Holtzbecker would have relied on highly skilled techniques to mimic the effects of light on the plant’s surface. The fine hatching and blending speaks to the artist’s mastery of the medium. The very act of representing the natural world through careful study was a tradition in early modern Europe, one intimately connected to the rise of scientific thinking. Yet it also speaks to a form of labor - the slow and precise work that allowed Holtzbecker to create this image. In a world increasingly shaped by industrial production, the patient hand of the artist offered an alternative model of value. Looking closely at the materials and processes used to make the work allows us to consider the social and cultural context of its creation.