Sprinkhaan 1690 - 1700

Jan Augustin van der Goes painted this watercolour of a grasshopper, likely near the end of the 17th century. Encased in a simple oval frame, the creature dominates the composition with its earthy greens, yellows, and browns against a dark grey background. Notice how the artist renders each part of the insect with meticulous detail. Look closely and you’ll see how it has been constructed through a series of detailed lines to create its form. It is as if the artist seeks to capture the very essence of ‘grasshopper-ness’. The structure and texture of the insect's exoskeleton are carefully delineated, demonstrating an engagement with the natural sciences. The piece evokes a sense of order and categorization through its aesthetic precision. Through the formalism of rendering a common insect, this image elevates the grasshopper to a subject worthy of aesthetic and intellectual contemplation. The simple composition invites viewers to consider the beauty and complexity of the natural world.