Lavandula multifida (aks-lavendel); Lavandula angustifolia (ægte lavendel) 1649 - 1659

Editor: So, here we have a drawing, or maybe a gouache, created between 1649 and 1659 by Hans Simon Holtzbecker. It depicts Lavandula multifida and Lavandula angustifolia - different types of lavender! It’s remarkably detailed; I find the botanical precision almost soothing. What do you see in it? Curator: Oh, I adore this. There’s such a delicate yearning captured here, a wistful attempt to pin down the ephemeral beauty of nature, don’t you think? It’s more than just documenting different lavenders. It's an attempt to capture a fleeting moment and hold it still, rendered with immense tenderness. Editor: I hadn’t considered the ‘yearning’ aspect – but now that you mention it, it definitely comes through. I was so focused on the scientific-illustration feel. Do you think the artist intended that sense of fleeting beauty, or am I projecting a bit too much? Curator: Well, dear one, isn’t all art a projection, to some degree? Holtzbecker was working in a time when the scientific method was emerging, yes. However, he was also immersed in a world saturated with symbolic meanings. Every flower held a secret message. This precise botanical accuracy hints at something beyond the surface of the study; do the roots dug out so painstakingly seem almost vulnerable to you, exposed? And what secrets do they represent for us, today? Editor: That's such a good point about symbolism in art; it completely reframes my understanding. This botanical study now speaks volumes on a deeper level! Thank you so much for sharing your perspectives. Curator: The pleasure was all mine! What a lovely discovery this piece continues to be.