Plate 11: Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral Butterflies with a Mole Cricket c. 1575 - 1580

Joris Hoefnagel created this study of a small tortoiseshell and red admiral butterflies with a mole cricket using watercolor and bodycolor, likely around the late 16th century. The butterfly, a symbol of transformation, flits through art history like the soul seeking rebirth. The butterfly motif can be traced back to ancient Greece, where Psyche, the goddess of the soul, was often depicted with butterfly wings, embodying the spirit’s metamorphosis. In Dutch Golden Age paintings, butterflies served as memento mori, reminders of life's fleeting nature, a poignant dance between beauty and brevity. In this image, we see the butterfly alongside a mole cricket, an unusual pairing. These insects, rendered with almost scientific precision, evoke a sense of wonder, yet perhaps also a touch of unease. Hoefnagel, through his meticulous detail, captures not just the likeness of these creatures, but also their symbolic weight, inviting us to reflect on the transient beauty and hidden depths of the natural world.