Anemone ×fulgens (skinnende anemone) 1635 - 1664

Hans Simon Holtzbecker rendered this watercolour of Anemone ×fulgens in the 17th century, capturing its radiant beauty. The anemone, with its vibrant petals, has long held symbolic weight. In classical antiquity, it was believed to have sprung from the tears of Venus as she mourned Adonis. Its fleeting bloom became a symbol of transient beauty and sorrow. Look at this Holtzbecker, how the flower’s delicate form conveys both allure and fragility. But trace its path through history. The anemone surfaces again and again. From its association with death and resurrection to its use in Renaissance paintings as a symbol of the Passion of Christ, its meaning evolves. This transformation embodies our own complex relationship with mortality and renewal. It speaks to our collective psyche, reminding us that beauty and loss are eternally intertwined. The anemone is more than just a flower, it is a mirror reflecting our deepest emotions.