Primula ×pubescens Wulfen (have-aurikel) 1649 - 1659

This botanical study of Primula ×pubescens Wulfen, or have-aurikel, was painted by Hans Simon Holtzbecker, likely in the mid-17th century, with watercolor and gouache. The composition presents six variations of the flower arranged in a grid on a pale background. The plants are depicted with rigorous symmetry, each a self-contained study in botanical form and colour. Holtzbecker's approach is notably formal; the plants are observed and rendered with a sense of scientific detachment. Consider how the artist uses colour to differentiate each variety, while the uniformity of the composition suggests an underlying structure, a classification system imposing order on the natural world. The detailed rendering, from the delicate petals to the intricate root systems, invites us to consider the relationship between art, science, and the human desire to categorize and understand nature. Ultimately, the artwork functions as a means of both aesthetic appreciation and systematic analysis.