Lavatera trimestris (mamelukærme) 1649 - 1659

Curator: What strikes me immediately is the delicate use of color, a careful layering that gives these botanical forms such palpable presence. Editor: And the meticulous detail! This is "Lavatera trimestris (mamelukærme)," a botanical drawing rendered between 1649 and 1659 by Hans Simon Holtzbecker. Currently, it resides in the Statens Museum for Kunst. Holtzbecker has created it using watercolor and gouache and with some drawing techniques. The rendering of the flowers' delicate petals seems incredibly precise. Curator: Indeed. Observe how Holtzbecker employs line to define form, yet tempers it with washes of color to imply volume. There’s a real tension there between objective recording and artistic interpretation, a hallmark of the best botanical illustration. Note how the background washes give it depth. It is so cleverly considered. Editor: Botanical illustrations, during Holtzbecker's time, served important scientific and social functions. They weren't just about aesthetic pleasure, even though this example certainly pleases the eye. It documents species. Was the “mamelukærme," as in, mameluke sleeve, particularly fashionable at the time, thus culturally notable? I imagine such factors contributing to what was seen as worthy of detailed rendering. Curator: Fascinating thought. Consider, too, the controlled use of light. The highlights, so delicately placed, serve to emphasize the textural qualities of the leaves and the translucence of the petals. Holtzbecker understands how to create depth on a flat surface, which serves to draw the viewer's eye to particular compositional qualities. Editor: The composition is very balanced, in fact. Two stems that appear parallel give an equal impression of each color with no crowding on either side of the picture plane. Curator: Precisely, each plane provides an area for contemplation without being overwhelming. Editor: Well, regardless, it's clear Holtzbecker's careful eye and command of the watercolor and gouache medium offer both scientific information and undeniable aesthetic enjoyment. Curator: I concur. A work that truly repays close and repeated viewing and gives botanical art an admirable reputation.