Mesembryanthemum spinosum 1668 - 1729

Laurens Vincentsz. van der Vinne made this watercolor on paper depicting a Mesembryanthemum Spinosum. The plant comes alive through the artist’s delicate strokes. Van der Vinne’s choice of watercolor allows for a translucent quality, capturing the plant’s texture and subtle color variations, from the pale green leaves to the reddish spines. The artist carefully rendered the plant with a high degree of detail and precision, using techniques related to botanical illustration. Each element is rendered to capture the individuality of its natural form. The creation of this artwork must have been a labor intensive act that required careful observation, and technical skill. The social context is that botanical illustration had become increasingly popular, driven by scientific inquiry and the desire to catalogue the natural world. By focusing on van der Vinne’s materials, process and context, we can fully appreciate this artwork. It also encourages us to expand the boundaries of traditional art history.