Album met voorstellingen van tulpen 1637 - 1645

This is Jacob Marrel’s “Album met voorstellingen van tulpen,” an album of tulip illustrations. Marrel was working in the Netherlands during the height of what is now known as “Tulip Mania,” a period in the 17th century when single bulbs of the flower were traded for more than the cost of houses. This album provides us with insight into the cultural and economic values of the Dutch Golden Age, when the tulip became a symbol of status, wealth, and beauty. It is not hard to imagine the emotions associated with the album, which embodies this intense cultural moment. The album is also a kind of archive: it documents the varieties of tulips that were most prized and sought after. This album, beyond its beauty and scientific value, remains a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of economic bubbles and the way cultural values can be invested in something as ephemeral as a flower.