Plate 67: Large White and Small White Butterfly Caterpillars, Hornworm Caterpillar, Broom Moth Caterpillar, and Others c. 1575 - 1580

Joris Hoefnagel created “Plate 67: Large White and Small White Butterfly Caterpillars, Hornworm Caterpillar, Broom Moth Caterpillar, and Others” using watercolor and gouache, at a time when the scientific method was gaining momentum. Hoefnagel made these detailed studies from life, a practice aligning with the era’s burgeoning interest in natural history and empirical observation. Yet, these renderings are not merely scientific; they are imbued with an emotional and aesthetic sensibility reflecting a changing world. Consider the cultural context: the late 16th century was a period of exploration and discovery, but also religious conflict and social upheaval. Hoefnagel’s choice to depict caterpillars, creatures in the midst of transformation, can be viewed as a metaphor for the societal changes occurring around him. As these creatures undergo metamorphosis, so too was Europe transforming through exploration, reformation, and renaissance. This watercolor is both a testament to nature’s beauty and a reflection of the human condition, poised between tradition and transformation.