Ontwikkeling van de zijderups tot een vlinder 1731

This intricate engraving, titled "Ontwikkeling van de zijderups tot een vlinder" (Development of the silkworm into a butterfly), was created by the Dutch artist Bernard Picart in 1731. The artwork, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, showcases the life cycle of the silkworm, from egg to caterpillar, cocoon, and finally, a beautiful moth. Picart's detailed illustrations capture the delicate transformations of this fascinating creature. The engraving's scientific precision and aesthetic appeal made it a popular educational tool in the 18th century, providing a visual guide to the process of silk production, a significant industry at the time. This detailed depiction of the silkworm's metamorphosis, rendered in a precise and captivating style, is a fine example of 18th-century natural history illustration.